Walk Slow. Skate Fast.
Walk Slow (maybe even barefoot)
To properly begin, I have an apology to make. Josie, Kate, Alyssa, Ky, Kyla Cal…you had it right.
I should walk barefoot more often.
I understand I used to give you all a hard time about it no matter what country we were in, even at a Goodwill in Atlanta. But you were right. Barefoot is best. I’m sorry!
For the longest time and for all the right reasons, I walk around with shoes on. It’s 2019, they have laces, some of them even have a foam bottom. They even make them to size! So; one morning in Ghana when I left my room for the day without shoes, it wasn’t exactly something I was planning on or looking forward to. But it’s kind of like when you find an extra ten dollars in your pocket and Chick-fil-a is the next exit. You just know God is looking out for you.
So I began my day walking barefoot. And let me tell you, it sucked for the first, say, eight hours or so. My feet are so used to being fully enclosed in shoes (I always refused to be that guy in Chacos) that just about everything hurt. I was constantly stepping on every rock that seemed like it was predestined and determined to jam into my heel the moment I went to step downward. The roads would get hot, and when at the beach, there was simply no escaping where the sun had scorched the ground. I was playing a game of chicken with African Beetles on the dirt roads (they always won, trust me). And I always found myself looking down at my feet. Maybe if I was feeling dangerous I would glance up every now and then to glimpse at my eventual target, whether it be a house or a restroom, or this place where one can get some delicious plantains.
Here’s a few things that my day walking barefoot taught me. Life lessons with a barefoot and broke Nick.
1.Walking slow is rarely a bad idea. Especially in our lives. If we are careful and we take more time to survey where we are going to place our feet, it makes a better situation for everyone involved. It makes us take the time to really think about what we’re doing.
2. By having to be sensitive to where we step, we are not just keeping in mind our emotional, mental, and physical health, but we are made aware of the footprints we leave in other people’s lives and paths.
3. Slow is not bad, slow is just slow. For people with an eye on eternity, we sure have an infatuation with everything in this instant. Food, friendships, relationships, businesses, school…the list goes on; they all are afflicted with this disease we created called instant gratification. The best things take time and become even sweeter and more flavorful. Maybe they’re even a little slower: the local burger joint will always be better than McDonalds. Wine, marriage, a childhood friend, a degree, a way to thrive and take care of our families, and love in general will grow sweeter in the slow steps. Maybe God was trying to teach us about patience when he talked about the two roads that lead to heaven. The Road that is broad and everyone takes is sure to be well trampled, probably smooth, and soft. It’s probably really easy to walk on that road barefoot. We could just follow the masses that are robotically walking down the road of man-made success that leads to heavenly disappointment. Or we take the other road. The road less traveled. There will probably be rocks and hills and valleys. Maybe even some lions, tigers, and bears (you thought I was going to say it didn’t you). But at the end of the day it’s going to walk us right up Love’s driveway. I like that. So, I guess I’ll keep stepping on some rocks every now and then.
4. It can be a relief to not have to focus on the end of the road. I don’t think God wanted us to worry so much about the unfolding of eternity. I think He really wants to have control over that and we are supposed to be his agents of love in the day to day. When we have to watch where we are going and where we are stepping, we don’t have to worry about what’s going on ten miles down the road. I believe the expression is, “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Notice the Word doesn’t really talk about a high beam light that’s meant to illuminate the next 20 miles. I think this is on purpose. While it’s really good to occasionally glance upwards and forwards; we don’t know that we are promised tomorrow. So, we should focus on right where our feet our planted, and maybe a step or two ahead. It keeps us present. We should let a timeless God worry about the rest of eternity. And we should be present. We’re not like God, we don’t exist throughout time. We exist in this moment though. What a great time to find someone to love on.
Stay Tuned for Part 2: Skate Fast
Thank you for reading this little blog of mine. Currently I’m sitting in a WiFi Café in Ghana to upload this little piece. In the past two and a half weeks I have passed through Togo, Cote’ d’Ivoire, and now I’m settled into Ghana for the next three weeks. Also, as an update, I’ve recently come to the understanding that for my three months in the middle of the year I will be either: Team Leading a group of young Americans for three months out of the US, working full time in South Africa by guiding teams and pouring into ministry leaders as well as doing outreach in the slums with Impact Africa, or I will be in Uganda to be the hands and feet through the continuing refuge crisis. I’m going to be bold and set a huge goal before myself. That is to raise all $15,000 I need before March 5th. Because of the spotty nature of WiFi and my constant travel, gaining monthly donors has been a very hit and miss event. I’m trusting and believing that the Lord will provide, Kingdom is being brought, people are being loved on, and I couldn’t be more filled with Joy. Pray about partnering with me, if you would. If you feel led, please contact me about how to partner with me. I have deadlines in the next three weeks that I have to hit, otherwise things could get complicated. Even if you don’t feel led to partner with me yourself, if you know others that have a heart for the long term mission field, or people who love to support the church in that way…it would be a huge blessing. Walk Slow!
