I recently found myself in a place of spiritual fatigue. I was not reading as much of the bible – or really, anything – as I would have liked. I hadn’t hiked in months (one of the ways I connect with God – or is it the other way around?) And I found myself thinking about…you guessed it…SHOES!
No, I know you didn’t guess that. For those of you who hardly know me, you might even think it pretty “batty” for me to write about shoes. You might be thinking, “Fashion isn’t ‘biblical’!” And you non-Christian believers might be consulting your own Hebrew or other scriptures right about now and thinking about the same skeptical thoughts.
That’s fair. But really, how could I write a blog about hiking, and tra-verse-ing through life, without stopping for a moment to focus on boots, shoes and sandals? After all, there really ARE texts that speak to this. Like what about that famous “Burning bush” reading in Exodus 3:5, when the angel of the Lord tells Moses to “(walk) no further” and “remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground!”?
Or what about that famous deferential moment when John the Baptist was like “I’m not worthy!” (in his best Wayne’s World bow), as recorded in Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:17, Luke 3:16, John 1:27 and Acts 13:25?: “One is coming (after me) who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of his sandals.” This act of humility toward Jesus was an important distinction in biblical times, as is any reference covered in not just ALL of the gospels, but in Acts as well!
So the truth is, footwear does matter. Yes, many of us put too much emphasis on style, or even function, when it comes to our “sandals.” Personally, I am very fortunate to have more than just a couple pair of shoes, boots and sandals. I have a pair of boots for hiking, and another pair for snow walking / snowshoeing. I own a black pair and a brown pair of dress shoes, and a few types of sandals or “flip flops.” I admit I have nothing to complain about when it comes to footwear. My feet are well taken care of…TOO well taken care of, you might say.
In the time of Christ, most people probably only had one pair of shoes or sandals if they had any at all. To walk around barefoot was not only common, but also a sign of one’s social standing. Some scholars say, ironically, being sandal-less was “good” for a person’s foot health (i.e. it prevented athlete’s foot by aerating one’s feet and building up callouses to protect the skin, etc); that is, of course, if you didn’t step on something sharp!
But there was an even more important reason why footwear is mentioned in the bible, I believe. Having only one pair of sandals was not only a sign of simplicity, but a mark of faith. Take a look at these verses from Matthew 10, the famous “Sending of the 12” (onto a mission to evangelize):
“5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”* 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,* cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.”
The point I take away from these verses is this: We spend far too much time worrying about what we wear – on our feet, and on the rest of our bodies. Perhaps the only “sandals” we need is what we wear and nothing extra, nothing beyond our simple outfit and sense of decency, hospitality, and trust in God.
…Didn’t Jesus say somewhere else, not to worry about what we wear, eat,or drink? (Mt. 6:25-27) Hmm…
trailversecity 
In the hiking that I’ve done near home and far away, I have come to consider my trusty hiking boots as good “friends,” in a way. They keep me warm and dry and are always reliable. If I had to give them all away but one pair…my boots would be the ones I keep. Not much to look at, but they are a good friend to my feet!