Toms Shoes did a little (BIG) social experiment today: they asked people to spend the day barefoot to bring awareness to the fact that having a simple pair of shoes can make a significant difference in the life of a child. I took them up on the challenge, and here’s what I learned.
I own a lot of shoes. Seriously, I am an unashamed shoe hog. I have been for most of my life. I’ve got shoes that I never even wear, but I hang on to them ’cause I might want to pull them out of the closet some day.
Yesterday I took a walk in the woods to do some praying and thinking. Somewhere along the way, I picked up a splinter in my sole. Not exactly the best start to a day without shoes. I felt that splinter all day.
The parking lot at our office is gravel. As I gingerly made my way across the pointy rocks, I felt every one of them. I had to walk differently, putting my weight on the balls of my feet rather than landing heel-first. Even so, my gait was affected, and I was slow in making my way into the office.
It’s pretty normal to find me walking around the office (or leading worship!) without shoes. But as I talked with people today, I was more aware that I didn’t have a pair of shoes with me, tucked away under my desk. I was more conscious of my lack of footwear than normal. I wondered if anybody else in the office knew that I was choosing to go without shoes, or if they even noticed.
As my mind was aware of the splinter and the walk across the gravel that awaited me, I found myself thinking about the people all over the world who do not have shoes on their feet. Today was a beautiful day in Happy Valley. The weather was perfect for ditching the shoes. But what about the cold days, the wet & muddy days, the days that include walks down streets filled with trash and human refuse, the days spent scratching out a life in the garbage dumps, the nights spent without a bed or a roof overhead…
I had to make a Wal-Mart run this afternoon, so I slipped on a pair of flip flops. Doing so, I realized that I have options. I got to choose to put on a pair of shoes. What about those who have no options, who are locked into a life without…I felt a little guilty, I guess.
Toms Shoes is a unique company. For every pair of shoes that we purchase, Toms gives a pair to a child somewhere in the world who has no shoes.
Today’s Bible reading covered Paul’s admonition to the Church at Corinth to be generous givers. He writes:
Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 2 Corinthians 8:11-14
Those words are sticking with me. I want to live a generous life, to be a blessing to other people. I’m thankful for Toms Shoes and their awareness project. It’s helped me hold on to this thought, and given me a practical way of experiencing what it feels like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, or lack thereof.
0 Comments