Christian Living

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I walked into my living room this morning and noticed a strange pair of shoes under the coffee table. Plain white, low top, canvas sneakers with nothing particularly special about them at all. I was puzzled at first by their presence, and then I remembered their origin. They had been left there by John, a young man who had spent the night sleeping on our couch.

John had showed up at our church the night before during our praise band rehearsal, brought there by his sister. He had no home, no money, no job and no possessions other than the clothes he was wearing and a small white plastic bag of personal hygiene products.

John had just been released from prison the day before. And because he apparently had a history with his family, he would not be allowed to stay at their home.

We attempted to contact the emergency shelters, but due to a glitch in the message system, the shelter that tried to call us back was unable to reach my wife’s cell phone because the last digit of her cell phone number had not been recorded.

By the time rehearsal ended, we had not heard from any of the shelters so we decided to take John to our home for the night. My son took him to Waffle House and bought him dinner while my wife and I went home and prepared a place for him on the living room couch.

When John arrived at our home, I asked him about his situation so I could try to figure out how to help him. He told me that he had been in a local youth correctional prison for breaking and entering. He said that he could not stay with his sister because she and her husband lived with other relatives and they did not want him around. He also told me that he had stayed at a cheap hotel the night before that he had rented with the help of his girlfriend.

Asked about his future, he drew a complete blank. He had no idea where he would go or what he would do. Faced with this prospect he confided that during the night in his rented hotel room he had thought that he would be better off just going back to prison since there at least, he would have food and shelter.

We managed to come up with some items for him from our closets; several shirts and pants, an almost new coat I had purchased on a trip to Nova Scotia, a backpack and a suitcase, some tennis shoes and a belt.

I stayed up with him until he was ready to go to bed around 2:30 in the morning. My son was sleeping downstairs on the floor under the pretense that he would be available in case John needed anything. The real reason was I wanted him downstairs to make sure that we stayed somewhat secure. Even then, my family barely slept with this stranger in the house.
I must admit that having this young man in our home was a bit frightening. A convicted felon fresh from prison where he had been held in lockdown due to his temper did not lead to a restful night.

The next morning my wife got up early and prepared a big breakfast for John and then I drove him to the Social Security office where he was going to apply for disability because he had previously received assistance due to his having ADHD (Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder.)

I waited for him while he had his appointment and then took him to Wal-Mart where we picked up some new boots and socks and underwear for him. Now that he was completely outfitted, I knew that he would at least have enough clothes to allow him to look for a job.

In the meantime, my wife had been on the telephone calling around to local assistance agencies, where she was able to find him long term housing at one of the local shelters.

John called his sister from my cell phone and she was going to take him to a place that she hoped would be able to offer him a job, so I drove him to her work and dropped him off there. I told her that the shelter was expecting John and he could stay as long as he needed to and she agreed to take him to the shelter later that day.

I shook hands with John and left him in her care.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we all worried about John: Was he getting a good meal? Did his sister pick him up for the family Thanksgiving dinner like she said she would? Was he doing ok in the shelter? Had someone stolen the few meager possessions he now had?

It is said that God works in mysterious ways and I believe he does. God no longer speaks to us directly as He did to some prior to sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but He does speak to us if we have ears to hear Him. As I wonder what God is trying to teach us from this encounter, I believe I can discern his message to us, sent by way of a pair of prison shoes.

As I looked at that pair of prison shoes under my coffee table, I thought about what they represented to the young man who wore them: Loss of freedom, no control over his life, a stain on him that he would forever be attempting to overcome, a reminder of his mistakes.

Then it occurred to me that we all wear prison shoes and I began to wonder what mine looked like.

Anything that holds us captive to this world, keeping us from the freedom of God’s love and grace, is like a pair of prison shoes.

What kind of prison shoes do you wear? Here are a few brands of prison shoes I have made up. See if any of them might be like the ones you wear.

Pride Walkers

Very popular these days, Pride Walkers are designed especially for the “me” generation. Everything about them screams for attention. Loud colors and bright flashing lights make them real attention grabbers. Extra thick soles to add height so your presence can’t be ignored. Extra expensive, they really speak to your accomplishments. Oh and don’t worry, you never lose an argument with these on.

Go-Tell-Its

These special shoes are designed for the active lifestyle of the gossiper. Ready to run tell the latest to anyone that will listen, these shoes offer a fleetness and mobility that is highly prized by those who need to attend to the business of others. Got a rumor to spread? These are the shoes for you!

Sneakers

Got some hidden sins you need to keep to yourself? Sneakers are the perfect shoe for you. With extra zippered compartments built right in, they can carry a multitude of hidden, un-confessed sins. With plenty of room for guilt and doubt, Sneakers are the ultimate in sin-wear. Go to meetings, attend church, work, play and socialize in these shoes and no one will be able to tell that you are hiding anything at all.

Shopper Hoppers

These are the ultimate consumer shoes. They have plenty of room for new possessions, acquisition of stuff and feature really small pockets for the occasional guilt gift to the church. No need to worry about that tithing stuff while you’re wearing these babies. With built-in justification, you can logically explain any level of giving based on real world examples of financial situations that would convince anyone that you just don’t have it to give right now.

Busy Bees

Everyone will know that you are too busy if you wear these little beauties. You won’t have to even worry about being asked to serve with a good pair of Busy Bees. With flashing schedule lights, everyone will know that you are just TOO BUSY with work and family and hobbies and such to ever have time to attend committee meetings or service projects.

I am sure if you think about it a little while you can come up with a lot more examples of prison shoes.

The question is: What are you wearing?

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