Yeah, that’s right, I said it. Stinky feet.
It’s embarrassing, but this became a recurring theme at World Race training camp. Not just with me, of course. I swear I’m not the only one with stinky feet at training camp— at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
I don’t mean to point the finger (or in this case toe), but as the week went on, I continued to hear comments and complaints from my squadmates about our stinky feet. Yes, it was totally gross and is even weirder that I am blogging about it…
But amidst the yuck factor, I was able to see how God is ultimately using this smelly mess to do something beautiful. “What?!” you say. Well, let me explain.
Our days at training camp felt long. First off, the daily schedule was that we did not have one. We were encouraged to embrace a “go with the flow” mentality, because life on the mission field can change at any moment. One evening we would set up our tents, and the next morning we would have to pack up and hike to a new location. One day, half of our squad was selected to give up our packs and gear to adjust to the fact that it is very possible our luggage could be stolen or lost in any country. At this point, the theme became a “go with the flow and share to make it work” mindset. Despite the uncertainty, our days were full of excitement because we were always on the go.
After the long days of living in constant fellowship and community, I was always ready for bed. The quick zip of my tent became a familiar comfort. I rustled in and fell onto my sleeping pad in a hurry to fall asleep. And then it happened…that smell. “Dang, my feet stink!” I thought to myself. “Whew— and I’m trying to start new friendships here with my feet smelling like this?” Gross.
Throughout the week, my squadmates and I continued to complain about stinky feet. One evening we were eating dinner and my married squadmate described her most recent stinky situation. Apparently, her husband shared the dilemma too. “No joke, his feet smelled so bad in our tent last night, I literally thought we were going to die. I thought we were going to fall asleep, suffocate, and never wake up”. Our table couldn’t help but to burst into laughter.
So, I know, you get it. Smelly this, smelly that. Then why am I continuing to write about our feet problems? Here’s my point.
As I continued to hear about stinky feet, I could not help but laugh. “Is this really what it is going to be like God?” I prayed in my head. And then it hit me. No, not the overpowering smell of my wet socks from the rainy night, but rather, a wave of humility that poured into my soul.
World Race is going to get messy, uncomfortable, and yes, smelly at times. Here my teammates and I are literally stepping into new parts of the world as we walk together in our journey with Christ.
Trust me, I don’t want to be so stinky. It is super gross. But I do want to be transformed. And the work of Jesus is not always the easy, clean path. Sometimes we are called to get messy. Besides, how could Jesus clean our feet if they were not dirty?
God, as crazy as this sounds, please continue to give my squadmates and I stinky feet on World Race. We want this journey to challenge us, to make us uncomfortable, and to leave a mark on our lives that cannot be ignored. Lord, help us be willing to get our hands and feet dirty. Humble us, so that we may bring you glory.
So, that is my challenge to all of us this week. How is Christ calling you to get a little more uncomfortable to better follow Him? Are you ready to get stinky?
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 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 10:14-15
