Sandal Wearers

Mark 8-9

He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;

6:9 but to wear sandals







Wow... take a look at that sandal! Granted, it is aged.... but even when it was newly made, it probably didn't offer much for protection for the walker. Footwear back then was predominantly sandals....The military wore sandals that were much more substantial.





The wealthy wore sandals but didn't usually walk the highways and byways. They rode in chariots or were carried in litters.

The disciples were told by Jesus to wear sandals. They were to be ready to be on the move... No more barefoot boating as in the previous life of fishing. They walked everywhere....through every type of field and roadway.

Many of us these days are equipped with sandals that are "meant" for hiking trails. They are ergonimically fit with cushy soles...they have straps that adjust in ways so that the sandal fits "like a glove".

I went to an outdoor playhouse this weekend. The parking lot was in a field, and the trail leading to the theater was limestone...tiny grains of loose limestone. I was wearing sandals that were similar to how the ones in the first picture might have originally looked -- the "open" and "fashionable" kind... you know, just a sole attached to the foot with a few thin leather straps.

As I walked through the field the grass and weeds got wedged between my toes...so I stopped for a moment and removed the greenery. (I can only imagine sandal walking through a field that is one of thistles, brambles and nettles -- probably not a bucolic experience!)

Then, when I walked the trail, I got an additional taste of this sandal walking bit. Every step upon the dry limestone grains introduced at last a teaspoon of "stuff" between my toes, under my instep -- Every body else in the group had on tennies or closed sandals, and they kept up a pace which stirred up the dust and grains all around me.

It wasn't impossible walking....and it wasn't the kind of "oooch/ouch" walking that one does walking barefoot across a rocky beach. I could maintain a pace (of sorts) but I was more aware of what was happening with my feet than anything else that was going on.

I realize this is a small detail about what Jesus was instructing his disciples to do. You may ask.... why pay attention to this particular point?

For me, it is my most recent reminder of the disciples' call to be simple, even minimalistic, when it comes to providing for one's own comfort. As we move about the terrain of ministry we are to do so leaning upon God's presence to provide what is essential.

In other words, we are not to spend much time or effort in providing for ourselves.

It may be a metaphor for you ...or it may be literal (because it does look like another warm summer day) ... put on your sandals.... walk the path of the day as you minister to others in Christ's name. Get some dust and pebbles between your toes as you walk the unpaved way that is before you.