Wearing the Wrong Shoes

You have to understand, I pack a bag almost every week of my life. I pack quickly and lightly and since I’ve had so much practice, I thought I was fairly good at it.

Until this weekend.

I wanted to attend the funeral of a friend and colleague in Rome GA on Saturday. Since we have family in Rome, my wife joined me on the trip and we decided to make a weekend out of it.

I happened to look in my duffle bag late Friday night after arriving in Rome and before going to bed and for some reason pulled out my shoes I was planning to wear the next day. I quickly realized I was not a very good packer after all.

My shoes didn’t exactly match each other. And they both were made for the right foot. I was fortunate I noticed this on the night before the 2PM funeral the next day.

I had a dilemma. It was not a life changing dilemma nor was it was one of life and death consequences. In the big scheme of things, it was a small dilemma.

But I had to make a decision.

I thought finding a pair of #14 shoes to purchase Saturday morning in Rome would be next to impossible. Nobody ever has my size. I usually have to order my shoes, for goodness sakes. My wife suggested for me to wear my casual brown loafers with my dark business suit.

No way was I going to do that.

I actually thought seriously about wearing the two right footed shoes that were both black and didn’t match to the funeral. Who would notice my shoes anyway?

I tried them on and walked a few steps.

Those few “practice” steps were as awkward steps as I have ever taken. It was uncomfortable to me and would be completely uncomfortable to anyone who would see me.

My wheels were turning when I got in bed.

I was wondering how many people are walking through life wearing the wrong shoes - as in not using their God given gifts to do what He created them to do.

I am convinced we are all created for a purpose and have been gifted in different ways. When we don’t develop and use those gifts - our walk through life is very awkward for us and just as awkward to those in our life.

Like wearing shoes that don’t match and a right footed shoe on the left foot.

But when we figure out those gifts, allow them to be developed and begin to use them for the good of others, our walk through life is normal and comfortable.

As comfortable as wearing a left shoe and right shoe that fit and match.

It is very important then, that we identify and develop our God given gifts and do everything in our power to help others in our life to do the same.

By the way, I found a shoe store Saturday morning. Incredibly, they had two pairs of #14 black dress shoes. They were not pretty but I bought a pair and wore them to the funeral. I plan on leaving them in the box in the trunk of my car just in case I ever do that again.

Thankfully I found another pair of shoes when I got home tonight that matched exactly the mismatched shoes I packed in my bag.