So, I have these Ruby Slippers, you might just say that they are a little magic. Not the click your heels, there’s no place like home magic, but spirit filled nonetheless. I didn’t take a picture of them cause taking a picture of your shoes to publish is just weird.
Back this summer, a dear friend gifted me a pair of red shoes. They are flat, ballet-style, made of recycled materials, and washable. They are comfortable, most days, and they are name brand to boot (shoe!). But, most of all, because of their qualities, you know, what they’re made of, and the name on them, these little flats are spirit filled. I know, it was shocking to me too. Let me explain…
Unbeknownst to me, these little numbers are apparently the new “it” shoe, they’re a super hot commodity right now. It’s amazing, you put them on your feet, wear them in public, and suddenly folks start asking about your shoes. I’m not kidding you every single time I wear them someone asks me about the shoes. It’s like magic! I put them on – are those (the brand name)?
Here’s the magic part. I have been able to speak to so many people about Jesus, to varying depths, simply because I put on my Ruby Slippers. They question the brand. I then tell them where I got them, from my dear friend at Church! Sometimes the conversation goes deeper (I talk about my branding — God’s Girl!), sometimes it does not. They’re kind of like my Gospel Shoes.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7
Yes! But, to be perfectly honest, sometimes I fail my beautiful slippers. You see, sometimes we don’t really realize or appreciate what we have and what we’re to do with it. I didn’t really appreciate the value of the gift that was shared with me.
We need to take advantage of the opportunities God has given us. Instead of passing by it way too quickly, or easily forgetting (or selfishly not caring) that our sole purpose on this earth is to bring glory to God by proclaiming the Good News to others. In fact, it’s the very least we could do for the One who gave us the most precious gift of all, earthly life and my more importantly, eternal life.
I’m not being flip when I speak of my shoes and Jesus. We are to take the Good News to anyone and everyone. We are to use every opportunity to talk about Jesus, even if it is meeting someone over a pair of shoes made out of recycled water bottles. We are to persist in His presence and yes, it can be when I’m wearing my Ruby Slippers.
Frankly, there are so many lessons for me in those beautiful red shoes – the love of a friend (the way God loves us), recycled material (aren’t our lives reshaped, renewed, remade, reformed), they’re washable (wash me and I will be whiter than snow), they happen to be red (He sought me and He bought me with His redeeming blood), they are conversation starters (Go tell it on the Mountain!).
Twenty twenty-two is upon us. Resolutions abound. How about finding something super ordinary in your life, perhaps a shoe, and turning it in to a conversation starter for Jesus. Ordinary things – to the coffee clerk (where’s our energy, our strength, come from?), to the neighbor at the gas pumps (are we pumping regular or high octane?), to the clerk in the grocery store (feast on the Bread of Life?), etc. I know that if we all stop and think for just a minute, we’ll each find our Gospel Shoes, our tool in our everyday lives with which to witness to others about our Jesus.
BTW, three folks I have met over my shoes in the last four months have wanted me to get back to them via email and let them know how they wash up, two of which I only met for the first time over my shoes. Another opportunity…
I love this!!