A day without shoes...

It's long, I know...But try and read the whole thing?

So the other day hundreds of people went without shoes, myself included. It was to raise awareness about those around the world who don't have shoes. Simple. I was among these hundred. Now, whether it brought awareness to those around me, I can't say. I had a few people ask me why I was barefoot, or they had seen others around campus and was wondering was going on. So, I was able to tell them why there were people around campus barefoot. It was pretty sweet.

As I walked out of my dorm room, I had a feeling of excitement. Of freedom. I was also pretty nervous. What were people going to think of me? I know it sounds vain, but it was just a thought that creeped into my thoughts. But that thought quickly gave way to a feeling that I wasn't prepared for...freedom. It felt so good to walk around barefoot. The way the ground felt cool under my feet was a relaxing feeling. I didn't feel constrained. I didn't feel bound by shoes. It was uplifting almost.

But quickly, and very quickly, the feeling of freedom soon turned to discomfort. Just a little. Not enough to put a damper on the freedom I was feeling, but I felt it creeping in. By the time I walked across campus and to my first class (which was canceled) I was in some pain. The ground wasn't smooth, it was like little pebbles and there were tiny branches and sticks that I kept stepping on. So this freedom that I was feeling eventually turned into pain and discomfort. The freedom was gone and the pain took it's place.

My friend kept telling me that my feet were too soft and not rough like they should be. And she was probably right. After looking at the bottom of my feet, not only were they completely black, they were cut up and had blisters already. And mind you, I had only been barefoot for maybe 30 minutes. Tops. Ha.

By the end of the day, I was almost limping. My feet were raw, hard, black, dirty, and in lots of pain. So, you may ask, why not just put shoes on? Don't think I didn't think about it. I had some sandals in my backpack (i had to work and i wasn't sure if they were going to let me walk around barefoot, regardless of the cause, but they did. so all is well) and i wanted nothing more then to put them on and ease the discomfort that my feet were feeling. But that would have defeated the entire purpose. Those who have no shoes, don't have the option of taking a pair of shoes out of their bag and putting them on. They. Don't. Have. A. Pair. Of. Shoes. Period. Not at all.

At the end of the day, I wanted nothing more than to soak my feet and scrub them clean. Alas, the time came when I coudl do so. And while doing so, I began to weep. Not a little sob here, but a full on cry fest. I was so humbled at the ability of being able to clean my feet. Not only did God serve me a slice of humble pie, he baked me a 3-tier cake and told me to eat.

Not only did I have the ability to wash and cleanse my feet, not only did I have clothes on my back, not only did I have a bed to sleep in, not only did I have a roof over my head, not only did I have food in my stomach; but I had shoes to put on my feet. Something so simple that I take for granted. I take all of these things, everyday for granted. Without a thought, I know I can walk over to the sink and pour myself a glass of water. Without a thought, I know that I can crawl into my bed and lay my head on my pillow and cover myself with my warm blankets. Without a though. Without a doubt, I know that I can put a pair of shoes on my feet and not have to worry about all kinds of bacteria that I can pick up by walking barefoot.

I have so much. So very much. But instead of being thankful for all that I do have, I worry about things that I shouldn't. Worry about not having the right pair of shoes to wear, the right sweater that goes with the outfit, the right kind of shampoo that won't dry out my hair. How? How can I sit here and worry about those trivial things, when there are those out there who have so much less than I do? Who worry, instead of not knowing where to go out to eat,but worry about when they are going to receive their next meal instead.

Sure, I may have some important worries in my life. Where am I going to get the money that I need for school, or how I'm going to pay this bill this month, or how I'm going to make that certain payment this month, but that all seems so small compared to the fact that I have shoes. A simple thing like shoes.

For some, going without shoes for a day, it was all about showing that you care about others around the world. Or maybe to say that you wear and support TOMS, and that's all grand, and I'm glad that people support that cause. Couldn't be happier. But for me, a day without shoes was mind opening. It caused a paradigm shift. It was a; eye-opening, mind blowing, and humbling experience.

If you went without shoes for a day, or without anything else for any amount of time, what did it mean for you? For me, it meant re-evaluating a lot in my thoughts, in my stresses, and in my life.