Dirty Shoes, Puddles, and Being With Others Who Are Struggling
God used my unwillingness to get my shoes dirty as a metaphor to remind me what it looks like to be with others who are struggling on their journey.
Let me start out by saying…it’s been raining for the past 40 days and 40 nights in East Texas. I walk out on my patio each morning, coffee in hand, and wait for a dove to appear with an olive branch showing signs of life.
Well, the trail near my place of residence turns into a flood zone when it rains for any extended period of time.
It’s like the Lost City of Atlantis—underwater and never to be found again.
For those who don’t know how OCD I actually am, I’m very particular about my shoes. I constantly look at the ground when I walk and am *very* careful about my foot placement because I have zero desire to get them dirty. In fact, I judge my shoes based on what my day could entail.
Anyway, if I’m walking on said trail and see a puddle covering the entire sidewalk, I’ll turn around and walk the other direction.
A few months ago, I was determined to get my 10,000 steps in. It had rained a few days prior, but I was feeling hopeful and decided to take my chances. When I got to the trail entrance, I walked about 50 yards to my right before approaching a giant puddle that covered the sidewalk. I said, “Not today, Satan!” and turned around to walk the other direction. After passing the entrance where my journey began, I got about 50 yards out (this time in the opposite direction) before discovering yet another giant puddle covering the sidewalk.
I bowed up to the puddle…and then turned back around and called it a day!
ME + DIRTY SHOES + PUDDLES don’t mix.
Well…while running this evening, the same thing happened. I ran into a GINORMOUS puddle…only this time, I decided to go through it instead of turning around.
As I tippy-toed across the puddle, God kindly and gently used my unwillingness to get my shoes dirty as a metaphor to remind me of what it looks like to be with others who are struggling on their journey and relate to them the way Jesus related.
So…HERE GOES NOTHIN’! *laughs nervously*
I think it’s tempting to act towards people the way I act towards puddles.
When I approach a puddle (or mud), I’d prefer to turn around and go the opposite direction rather than do something that might cost me a clean pair of shoes. Instead of taking a risk and staying focused on the bigger picture (finishing my walk or run), I avoid the puddle and take the easy way out.
For me, turning around is convenient and comfortable.
I don’t want to get my shoes dirty and be inconvenienced.
In the same way, when we see others who are struggling (i.e. with grief, heartache, etc.), we’d much rather turn around and go the opposite direction than do something that might cost us. Instead of taking a risk and focusing on the larger story God is writing, we avoid the mess and take the easy way out.
We don’t want to “dirty” up our life and be inconvenienced.
When I think about what it looks like to be with others who are struggling in a way that reveals Christ to a watching world, I am reminded of the importance of simply BEING WITH them. Larry Crabb (man, I miss him!) introduced this concept to me. He always talked about “moving towards others in profound ways” because “being with someone may be the most beneficial thing we can do.”
I’m honestly still not quite sure what that looks like…I am a lifelong student…but I do believe it matters how we relate to others and that we’re called to intentionally and purposefully move into the lives of others in a way that puts Jesus on display.
Just as I don’t want to run through puddles in fear of getting my shoes dirty, we often hesitate (or perhaps refuse) to be/stay with those whose struggles look different than ours because we don’t want the messiness of their life to rub off on us.
But here’s the thing—
People are messy…and I am one of those messy people!
Thankfully, as Larry Crabb put it, “God moves towards me into my mess.”
I want to do the same for others!
Jesus was ALWAYS intentional and purposeful about moving into the lives of others. He moved TOWARDS THEM and INTO their mess. He didn’t shy away from it.
What are my actions saying to a watching world if I’m unwilling to be with others who are struggling? What message is my life sending about who Jesus is and what He came to do if I’m choosing to keep my distance rather than be inconvenienced for the sake of another’s soul?
One of my favorite quotes by Judah Smith says,
“For love to be love, it can’t work only when people are polished and proper and generally pleasant. Love has to work with people in the rough, with people who are anything but lovable, at least on the surface. Love has to be able to say, ‘I know you’re on a journey, but I love you right where you are. Sooner or later you’re going to make progress; but in the meantime, I love you and am committed to you.”
I long for others to be willing to get their shoes dirty…for me! My HOPE is that they will see my mess and *still* choose to move towards me and INTO my mess.
If I long to receive this type of love from others, wouldn’t it make sense for me to be willing to pour myself out as a drink offering in return?
Loving like Jesus is costly, but revealing Christ’s character to those around us is a PRIVILEGE and what we are called to do! We are CALLED to move towards others into the messiness of their life.
So…let's inconvenience ourselves! Let's run through “puddles” and get our “shoes” dirty for the sake of another’s soul, and let’s give them a taste of God’s love for them by being/staying with them in their struggle and mess…just as God does for us!