Broken Feet

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 
                                Romans 10:15 

Feet are physically and symbolically the lowest member of the body and as such they are considered dirty and are highly offensive to the Thai people. It is considered rude to touch or to point your feet at something or to point your toes at someone while you are sitting. In addition the head is the highest part of the body and is exalted. It is also highly offensive to touch someone elses head.

It’s something we in western culture hardly think about and it’s strange to think that something as unintentional as pointing your feet at someone could be so highly offensive. It’s a good example of the challenges that a change in perspective can bring, especially where communication across cultural lines is an issue. 

In general life here in Phuket hasn’t been as trying as it may have been for other groups but we have definately faced our fair share of obstacles this past month. Physically our bodies have struggled to adjust to the heat and humidity of Thailand while our feet show the signs of a good amount of walking and hard work clearing land for the new SHE centre here in Phuket. 

We have acquired blisters, bug bites, broken toe nails, cuts, bruises and a whole assortment of weird and wonderful tan lines on our feet during this past month. In fact it has been made quite clear that our feet can make us extremely miserable while they’re way down there kicking about in the dust.

When I consider the reaction to feet expressed by the Thai people I can’t help but think about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. How incredibly humbling for the man that we consider to be God of the universe to stoop down and wash the feet of his followers. To touch their feet. Dirty feet, callused and covered in dirt and grim from the road.

 

It’s such a profound moment and I think that it connects deeply with the representation of feet in Thai culture to highlight exactly what Jesus came to do here on earth. Feet are highly offensive. They are gross and almost always either dirty or unpleasantly aromatic. Kind of like sin trodden humanity. We are a disgusting mess and an unpleasant aroma as we stand before the righteous God completely enthralled by our sin. Nothing about us is good or truly pleasant. We are lowly while he is highly exalted. 

When Christ came to earth in order to take the penalty for our sins he laid his head upon our feet. He acted in complete humilty. Why did he do it? Because he loves us.

Bangla road is anything but pretty and I have struggled to keep a godly perspective about it this entire month. Our contact doesn’t hesitate to call it the pit of hell and he might not be far from the truth. It’s a major party scene full of tourists, flashing lights, loud music, provocatively dressed women and lady boys, the occasional smell of sewage and women whose eyes betray them even while they smile and beckon for you to join them at the bar. 

It is a confusing place and not exactly the sort of environment that I enjoy being a part of. But I choose to go. I choose to walk the streets of Bangla road because I know that when I was lost my God knelt down in the dirt, took my feet in his hands and washed them. He made my feet beautiful, rubbed sweet oils into them, healed the cuts and wounds they had acquired while I ran through the thorns and kissed them. 

I have been blessed with feet that have been made whole by the good news of the gospel. I no longer limp or walk with discomfort. I have been set free to run right into the open arms of my heavenly Father without anything to hold me back. I am also free to go forth and take the good news of my Father into the streets of Patong.

Oh how truly beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!