Take off your shoes

You are standing on holy ground

Let’s talk about feet, baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and all the bad things that may be. Let’s talk about feet! (*snickers at bad 90’s song reference*)

I’ve been wanting to talk about feet for a looonnnnggg time. Buckle up. This is going to get good.

I already know what you’re thinking … “ewww, gross, feet.” But let’s try to be big girls and boys and remember that we all have them and rely on them daily. Grab a drink and sit down while I try to convince how amazing feet are and make sure you never look at feet the same way again. (the bar is set high)

Feet: Each one has 26 bones, 30 joints, and tons of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves all beautifully arranged to get you where you’re going in life. Form, meet function. Be they pretty, ugly, big, small, narrow, wide, high arch, no arch - it doesn’t matter. They are all strong, flexible, adaptable, and very resilient. Or they could be. Remember when you were younger and could climb trees and run barefoot on gravel like it was nothing?

What changed?

Oh, I don’t know. Just a lifetime in shoes. (And don’t even get me started on putting shoes on babies *rolls eyes*)

You have probably seen or heard about the barefoot running craze and those unfortunate Five Finger shoes that tried to be popular a few years back. Well now there’s been a recent shift in strength training toward training barefoot. And it makes perfect sense. When feet are allowed full contact with the ground, your body is more responsive, more coordinated, and more powerful. And who doesn’t want that?? Even Nike knows how amazing feet are; they just want to you believe they have the power to take a good thing (beautifully designed feet) and make it better (hey Nike, I still can’t dunk). See ad here:

In my PT practice, I probably spend more time working with feet than the average therapist. “Excuse ma’am, I came here for my neck pain. Why are you giving me foot exercises?” Ok, that may be an extreme example but it all starts with our feet. As above, so below. Our feet set the stage for everything that happens next in the chain of movement in our bodies. Knee pain? Look at the feet. Back pain? Look at the feet. Follow that up the chain and where does it end? The neck. Look at the feet.

If we continually shove our feet into ill-fitting, poorly designed shoes, we are left with toes that don’t bend, stiff ankles, limited proprioceptive input, weakened muscles (*points to glutes*), decreased balance, altered body mechanics, and in all likelihood, pain somewhere in the body.

FEET MATTER!

I’ll get off the Physical Therapy informercial now and get to the good part (again, I may be setting the bar too high). When Moses came across the burning bush, why does God tell him to take his shoes off when standing on holy ground? In the context of the time, it most likely meant to show honor and respect to the holy of holies. In addition, shoes also represent the material world. They act like a barrier between us and God, much like Adam and Eve trying to hide their naked bodies from God with a fig leaf (cute guys, but he can still see you). To remove them is to shed our earthly identity (false self) and devote ourselves to God’s divine presence. (Read: to be real. vulnerable)

Shoes do serve a purpose. However, they went from protecting our feet from the harsh elements to fashion statements and status symbols. Shoes make the man, right?! (Please say no, please say no). Am I suggesting we all ditch our shoes and live like barefoot hippies? (tempting, but please say no). Shoes have their place. Orthotics, too, have their place. We do need them. What I am suggesting is that we are standing on holy, hidden potential.

I believe our feet represent the foundation of our faith and they were designed to be strong, adaptable, and stabile. When our foundation is compromised, there will inevitably be some cracks in the walls. When we let our precious little feet live inside the cage of a shoe, we slowly sink into Stockholm syndrome and start to sympathize with our captor. When we begin to rely on the material world for all our protection, cushioning, stability, and oh, status, we lose our trust in God’s promise.

As above, so below. Look at the feet. Take off your shoes and get grounded.

At the end of the day, don’t you want to go home and relax? Look to the feet. Kick off your shoes and feel at home in God’s holy presence.

Feeling anxious? Frazzled? Take off your shoes and feel the holy, steady ground beneath your feet.

Tired of trying to fit in to the mold? Look to the feet. Get out of the cage. The door is not locked.

Feel like the mistakes and grudges from the past keep following you? Look to the feet. Take off your shoes, wipe your feet clean, and don’t allow the dirt follow you through the door of your heart.

Do you find it hard to get where you want to be in life? Look to the feet. Take off the lead boots. Allow your feet to properly propel you on the path God has for you.

Did a bump in the road throw you for a loop? Look to the feet. Consider it a joy to expose your feet to different textures and surfaces. Your feet are resilient and capable of learning how to adapt to various terrains.

Ah, the feet. A foundation for faith. Full of potential.

Take off your shoes. You are standing on holy ground.

Now please listen to this song: