blog first published on October 21, 2016
My daily prayer practice has recently involved using a shoe. Let me explain.
Since returning from my sabbatical, I have been using my prayer bench in my study at church. I close my study door, spread out a prayer rug that I made from remnants from my green chasuble, light an incense cone, and make ready my prayer bench. Before kneeling, I remove my shoes. This simple gesture helps to focus my attention on the sacredness of the moment into which I am entering with my silent prayer. When I finish praying, in the incense-sweet aroma of the room, I sit in my rocking chair and get ready to put on my shoes again. With shoe in hand, I pause for one more prayer - a shoe prayer.
It all began rather spontaneously one morning. I recall that I was in the office extra early that day. It was going to be a busy day and I was about to head in all points of the compass. As one who is prone to sharing blessings on a variety of objects - asking for God's extraordinary presence among the ordinary things of our lives - I thought, "I should be blessing these shoes!" Why not? What followed was a simple prayer asking for God to bless my soles and to be present with me throughout my busy day.
My shoe prayer and blessing ritual began as an unexpected blessing in of itself.
Now, each day, before I leave my prayer time, I hold my well-worn shoes in my hands and pause. I think about all the places where my shoes might travel in the next few hours. Pastors have schedules that are literally "all over the place". From hospitals to nursery rooms, from home visitations to coffee shops, from classrooms to deathbeds, from travel around the synod to heading back to church for evening meetings, from sanctuaries to fellowship halls... the shoes of a pastor do not follow a regular pattern within any given twenty four hours. What is more, the travel is often unpredictable as we are called from one place to another with little warning or preparation. The pace and diversity of varied destinations is part of what I love and cherish about this calling. I truly like being 'on my feet' and taking 'side trips' while heading in the direction of sharing God's love.
Delving into the realm of metaphor, I not only think the places that I go but also the manner of my traveling steps. There are times when bold steps with confidence are needed. There are other times when it is better to step carefully and with great sensitivity. Building upon the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3 - the many seasons and times in life, require different steps (and different footwear for that matter!) Times of joy - dance. Times of sorrow - solemnity. Times to break down - stomp. Times to build up - climb. There are times when we must humbly retrace our steps and pause while we ask for forgiveness. Some of our walking is down familiar and well- worn carpets and some paths require trailblazing for there are simply no markers to help out. Sometimes our feet need to stop and we need to stand in the moment. Or we need to sit down and take the load off our feet!
The practice of offering a shoe prayer is not one that needs to be reserved for pastors. After all, clergy or not, we each travel our own day's journeys that involve similar struggles, joys, challenges, conflicts. To walk and journey onward down varied roads/paths is the need of all humans -a part of our created and common existence. Questions arise.... How will we walk? What is the nature of our steps? Will we venture forth in good courage or will we find ourselves stopped in our tracks? Will we run our proverbial race with enthusiasm or drag our feet? These questions remain open and before us all at the start of our day.
What would it be like for us all to take the opportunity that putting on our shoes (sneakers, hiking boots, ballet shoes, Crocs, etc.) affords? What if we were to ask for God's blessing as we put soles on our feet? Take a moment. Breathe. Consider. Ask for the strength, wisdom, courage, and humility needed for all that follows. Trust in God who walks ahead, behind, and beside. Try it out. See if it works for you as it has for me...
Thank you for reading this blog. If it was helpful, please like it below or leave a comment. I appreciate all feedback received. In Christ, Walt.