{"id":29230,"date":"2023-09-01T20:06:15","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T20:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativeoutreach.com\/?p=29230"},"modified":"2024-01-02T20:22:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T20:22:48","slug":"the-shoe-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativeoutreach.com\/the-shoe-man\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shoe Man"},"content":{"rendered":"
Guest Post<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
My alarm went off<\/p>\n
It was Sunday again.<\/span><\/p>\n I was sleepy and tired<\/p>\n My one day to sleep in.<\/p>\n But the guilt I would feel<\/p>\n The rest of the day<\/p>\n Would have been too much<\/p>\n So I’d go, and I’d pray.<\/p>\n \n I showered and shaved.<\/p>\n I adjusted my tie.<\/p>\n I got there and sat in a pew just in time.<\/p>\n \n Bowing my head in prayer<\/p>\n As I closed my eyes,<\/p>\n I saw the shoe of the man next to me<\/p>\n Touching my own. I sighed.<\/p>\n \n With plenty of room on either side, I thought,<\/p>\n “Why must our soles touch?”<\/p>\n It bothered me, his shoe touching mine<\/p>\n But it didn’t bother him much.<\/p>\n \n A prayer began: “Our Father”…<\/p>\n \n I thought, “This man with the shoes has no pride.<\/p>\n They’re dusty, worn, and scratched<\/p>\n Even worse, there are holes on the side!”<\/p>\n \n “Thank You for blessings,” the prayer went on.<\/p>\n \n The shoe man said a quiet “Amen.”<\/p>\n I tried to focus on the prayer<\/p>\n But my thoughts were on his shoes again.<\/p>\n Aren’t we supposed to look our best<\/p>\n When walking through that door?<\/p>\n “Well, this certainly isn’t it,” I thought, glancing toward the floor.<\/p>\n \n Then prayer ended, and the songs of praise began.<\/p>\n \n The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang.<\/p>\n His voice lifted the rafters.<\/p>\n His hands were raised high.<\/p>\n The Lord could surely hear the shoe man’s voice from the sky.<\/p>\n \n It was time for the offering, and what I threw in was steep.<\/p>\n I watched as the shoe man reached into his pockets so deep.<\/p>\n I saw what was pulled out, what the shoe man put in.<\/p>\n Then I heard a soft “clink” as when silver hits tin.<\/p>\n \n The sermon really bored me to tears, and that’s no lie.<\/p>\n It was the same for the shoe man<\/p>\n For tears fell from his eyes.<\/p>\n At the end of the service<\/p>\n As is the custom here<\/p>\n We must greet new visitors<\/p>\n And show them all good cheer.<\/p>\n \n But I felt moved somehow<\/p>\n And wanted to meet the shoe man<\/p>\n So, after the closing prayer<\/p>\n I reached over and shook his hand.<\/p>\n He was old, and his skin was dark<\/p>\n And his hair was truly a mess<\/p>\n But I thanked him for coming<\/p>\n For being our guest.<\/p>\n \n He said, “My name’s Charlie<\/p>\n I’m glad to meet you, my friend.”<\/p>\n There were tears in his eyes<\/p>\n But he had a large, wide grin<\/p>\n “Let me explain,” he said<\/p>\n Wiping tears from his eyes.”<\/p>\n I’ve been coming here for months<\/p>\n And you’re the first to say ‘Hi.'”<\/p>\n \n “I know that my appearance<\/p>\n Is not like all the rest<\/p>\n “But I really do try<\/p>\n To always look my best.”<\/p>\n I always clean and polish my shoes<\/p>\n Before my very long walk.<\/p>\n “But by the time I get here<\/p>\n They’re dirty and dusty, like chalk.”<\/p>\n \n My heart filled with pain<\/p>\n and I swallowed to hide my tears<\/p>\n As he continued to apologize<\/p>\n For daring to sit so near.<\/p>\n He said, “When I get here<\/p>\n I know I must look a sight.<\/p>\n “But I thought if I could touch you<\/p>\n Then maybe our souls might unite.”<\/p>\n \n I was silent for a moment<\/p>\n Knowing whatever was said<\/p>\n Would pale in comparison<\/p>\n I spoke from my heart, not my head.<\/p>\n “Oh, you’ve touched me,” I said,<\/p>\n “And taught me, in part;<\/p>\n That the best of any man<\/p>\n Is what is found in his heart.”<\/p>\n \n The rest, I thought,<\/p>\n This shoe man will never know.<\/p>\n Like just how thankful I really am<\/p>\n That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.<\/span><\/p>\n By: Leanne Freiberg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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