3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:3-5 & 12-17
John 13:3-5 & 12-17
We were 2.5 weeks into the World Race (WR), and this highly introverted individual was learning how to balance quiet time & team bonding. Ask anyone I worked with in the last 2 years, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: “If you want to get to know the “real Molly”, you’ll have to wait at *least* 6-12 months before she’s comfortable enough to be herself”
But wait, teams on the WR only last 3-5 months, MAX. If it takes me 6 months to get to know someone, then I’ll never get to know anyone. I’ll never be able to show them the “real Molly” (whoever that is), and I’ll never be able to get to know them fully. Clearly, something had to change. Only problem, I thought I was doing a good enough job.
After skyping my Mom one day, I found an email sitting in my inbox; simply titled “Feet”. We had talked earlier about loving my team, how I showed & received love, and just learning how to build relationships with 6 strangers all at the same time. This was what I found waiting for me:
“”Wash their feet” That’s what I heard the Lord respond when I prayed today on the drive to work — asking Him what do I say to Molly about how to love her teammates?
You told me your teammates know you love them — really, how do they know? That’s where my thoughts were when I prayed to God this morning and asked the Holy Spirit to give me something to say to you. Pray about it and then do it — for every one of those girls out there trying to humble themselves and serve God alongside you.”
My heart filled with joy as I imagined all the love I could shower upon my team with this act of humility, how much closer it would bring all of us, and how wonderful it would be to serve me team as Christ served his disciples. This was going to be the most incredible……
Yeah, no. None of that happened, instead it was something more like:
I scowled my way through it, glaring at the screen and wondering just who the heck she thought she was. “She’s not here, she doesn’t know how I’m loving them. She hasn’t talked with them. Who is she to think I don’t love my team?!”
I slammed the laptop shut and bitterly went about my day, disgusted by the mere thought of me not loving my team properly.
For two days I skulked around the apartment, wandered aimlessly through ministry, and laid awake each night going over how absurd the whole thing was. One night as I laid there tossing and turning, I heard my team leader Amy’s voice in the room next door. And it was like I was hit with a wave of conviction. If I truly loved my team, why wouldn’t I wash their feet?
I knew in that moment that I had to go through with it, but as long as I didn’t say anything to anyone, I didn’t technically have to do it. Right?
Before I knew what was happening, I was out of bed and standing in the doorway talking to Amy. I had requested Monday as my designated team time, and just like that, I was committed to washing their feet.
Despite agreeing to the challenge given to me, I knew nothing about feet washing. Honestly, I thought it was ridiculous, gross, uncalled for, and ultimately — something I wanted absolutely nothing to do with. But there I was, scanning the bible for the heart behind it, and scouring Google for practical advice (soap? candles? Neither!)
Ultimately, I decided that everything I read about feet washing ceremonies was completely wrong. None of them talked about Jesus’ heart behind washing his disciples feet. None of them talked about what the culture was like, and why it was such a big deal when he did it (feet washing was reserved for the lowliest servant, as it was the most menial task one could imagine). And on top of that, none of them were personal, nor intimate.
Monday arrived faster than I would have liked, and despite feeling ill-equipped, I went for it. One by one, each member of my team joined me in the dining room, where I was able to share what this was all about, and my heart behind it. For each person, I had prayed for words to speak into their lives, and verses to encourage them with.
As my team shuffled through, I found joy rising up within me. All the dread, nervousness, and anxiety I had felt leading into this disappeared. In it’s place was peace, joy, an overwhelming love for the incredible women on my team, and as a result was the most humbling experience of my life. Hugs were shared, tears were shed, and in those moments I drew that much closer to my team (and squad leader!).
Sure, it was awkward. It wasn’t perfect, and it was a far cry from being photo worthy. But it was beautiful. It was humbling. And it was worth everything I had poured into it.
Want to know the best part? It didn’t end there. The challenge continues, working it’s way through the squad and inspiring other’s to the same beautiful acts of love, humility and honor.
And now I pass the challenge on to you: find someone in your life whom you’d like to honor, and wash their feet. I promise the results will be worth any awkwardness you may encounter. Don’t forget to pass the challenge onward, continually sharing the heart and purpose behind this incredibly humbling act.
Oh, and one more thing, please let me know when you decide to take up this challenge and how it went for you. I’d love to hear all of your stories, and see how far this challenge goes. Email me [email protected]
