Friday, January 25, 2008

Dear God,

How can a shoe bring so many people together? Because the shoe is a symbol of your love.

I attended a college basketball game. Imagine, me, a non-sports fan hooting and hollering for the home team. I went barefoot. Although I rested my feet on a solid wood floor, I was mindful of the millions, hundreds of millions whose feet walk on dirt, glass, debris, slime, and I don't want to know what else. I wanted to be in solidarity with those without shoes.

We had come together to collect shoes, shoes to be taken to Africa, South America and parts of rural and inner city America. We wanted to help, felt compelled to help. I remembered those little feet I came to love in Africa. I remembered their faces. How could I say no to those who closed in on us in the rural village, children who just wanted to touch us as if we were some kind of gods? How little they understand about us. I wanted to return shoes to them.

When the announcement came that we had 110,000 pairs of shoes, I shouted, cheered. I realized then that the idea for shoes was yours. You had pricked the hearts of those who would be inspired to give. You made it happen at a ballgame. Who knows who was in the crowd that some day may make a difference somewhere else in the world?

Shoes, a symbol of your presence.

Shoes, you chose shoes
to give witness
to your love
for the world.
Who can measure
your love?
Who can begin
to fully describe
eternity's love?
Shoes for little ones,
big and small ones,
for mamas and daddys
for sister and brother.
Shoes
for feet washed
in the love of Jesus.
Shoes.

Love, Andrea