I don't need new shoes

- June 16, 2012

The picture above on the left is a picture of my shoes. Sneaks. Kicks. Whatever you want to call them, they're my shoes. I've had them for a little over a year now. I bought them from Target for about $30.00. When I was younger, especially in high school, I always looked forward to "back to school shopping." I knew I was going to get new shoes! Of course I went through a lot of phases of different kinds of shoes being cool. Below are a few of the popular types of shoes that I wore when I was younger.... Over the last ten years or so of my life- a time during which I gained independence from my parents and grew spiritually despite various shortcomings and stumbling blocks- my perspective on shoes has changed a little. I really don't care that much what's on my feet. As long as I don't look super goofy and as long as I actually have a pair of shoes to wear- I'm good. I really don't think shoes should cost $80.00+. I do understand splurging every once and a great while and I also understand there are exceptions. Like, ask my wife about running shoes and she'll clearly explain the importance of Asics or something that has quality craftsmanship, breathable material, and proper support. Ask me about basketball shoes and I'll be the first to tell you never to buy anything but a Nike shoe and don't spend $40 cause you'll have blisters up the wazoo. So yes, there are exceptions. However, why do so many of us in our culture need new shoes every year? American dream. Why do we want the next pair of Nike classics after only wearing ours for like seven months? American dream. Why don't we simply wash our shoes, replace the laces (or should I even mention, maybe wash the laces). American dream. I'll let you decide. What I know, is that my shoes are just over a year old. I've washed them multiple times. They've been to Jamaica 3-4 times and yes, I've washed the laces. I plan to keep them at least two years and hope that they last 3-4. I've thought about getting in soles but haven't done it yet.

I heard on the radio the other day something about how much one can tell about a person by simply looking at their shoes...While I may sound passionate about what types of shoes one should buy and how often, I really don't care much about shoes at all. Buy whatever kind of shoes you want. Spend as much as you want. What I do care about is where my heart is at. Jesus said in Luke 6:44 "Each tree is recognized by it's own fruit." If someone looks at my shoes and says, "wow, those must be expensive" I'd feel a little bit foolish myself. This is because millions of people on earth don't have shoes. Organizations like www.samaritansfeet.org exist simply to help solve this problem. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm comfortable with my shoes in a way reflecting the nature of my heart. I don't want to waste money on things I don't need. I don't want to take for granted the fact that I can get something like shoes every year and not notice it in my budget. I want to live a life like Jesus called me to live- one that cares about matters of eternity, cares for the forgotten, lost, broken, poor and helpless. I hope every time I tie my shoes I think about a poor, small child in a rural village that runs around playing football barefoot. That'd be ok with me. Each tree is recognized by it's fruit. In a small way, I want my dedication to not taking for granted the simple things we have as a part of our 'American dream' to be a fruit from the tree of my life.