Wear Your Own Shoes
Have you ever wished you could walk in someone else’s shoes? I mean their walk or journey seems so much more exciting than yours? You admire them. You see their accomplishments. You recognize their giftings.
We’ve all watched little girls parade around in mom’s high heels! They have to grow into them. And even then, they may not be the right size.
I did once years ago. Tried to walk in some big shoes. I didn’t get more than a few paces.
I greatly esteemed the Episcopal priest, Forrest Mobley. He was highly anointed, well-loved, humble and had seen miracles happen–even people healed when he prayed for them. While I admired him I certainly was not jealous of his walk. He had been instrumental in introducing me to the Holy Spirit’s empowerment in the early 1970s when I’d visit my mom in the Florida fishing village of Destin.
As a pastor he was often down at the docks on weekdays praying for fishermen–dressed in a casual T-shirt and shorts, always wearing his big cross. But on Sunday he donned white vestments, led his kneeling congregation in prayer, then preached powerful sermons based on the life of Jesus. Many people were baptized with the Holy Spirit there during the early days of the renewal movement—some even travelling from other states to worship and receive prayer.
One of the church’s first healings happened when a special service was held to pray for Bill Lance, a 31-year-old Air Force captain with acute leukemia which doctors believed was terminal. Forrest anointed Bill with oil, as he and other men gathered around, all joining their prayers of faith. And God did heal Bill in a miraculous way. The good news is that Bill Lance is still alive!
Forrest and his wife Nancy and I became friends though I only saw them when I spent summers at my mom’s place. One afternoon when I was visiting them in their home, the phone in the other room rang. Forrest kicked off his shoes and hurried to answer it. As Nancy and I kept talking, I pushed my feet into his big brown loafers and began to walk around the room. She and I both chuckled loudly. Those shoes were way too big for me–they swallowed my smaller feet. Definitely not mine to wear.
“It felt weird, strange, uncomfortable,” I told her. “I couldn’t walk in these, for sure.”
“No, but you have your own shoes to wear—your own unique path to walk. We all have a road to travel, and God equips us with what we need to walk it,” Nancy replied.
When Forrest returned, he laughed with us trying to picture me walking in his shoes.
Forrest served churches in other places, even became dean of a cathedral. But in our retirement years we ended up back in the same Destin, Florida area where he was once a pastor. By then he was an Anglican priest. During the last six years of his life, he joined my writing critique class. I was still helping him write a book about his Destin church experiences when he slipped into heaven while clutching his “comfort” cross. He died during the pandemic but not of covid.
But oh, the glorious memories I have, spanning many years of friendship. When I underwent surgery, he was in the waiting room praying. Whenever I’d start writing a new book, he was praying for me. Different paths. Different shoes. But mighty wonderful whenever our paths crossed.
Recalling the day I tried on Forrest’s shoes, I am reminded of this Scripture: “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things.’” (Romans 10:15 NKJV)
I can’t walk in another person’s shoes. And no one can walk in mine. That goes for each of us. Everyone is unique. Paul reminds us: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)
Prayer: Thank You Lord for showing us what our giftings are and enabling us to fulfill Your purpose for us individually. Thank You for allowing Jesus to live on earth and give us an example of how to walk in ways pleasing to You. In His name we pray. Amen.
Scriptures: Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. (Ephesians 6:15 TLB)
Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!” (Ephesians 2:10b TPT)
Stand therefore…having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace… praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:15,18 NKJV)
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