Mondays I work from County Road 210 in St. Johns County. Since today was Monday, I began my day shortly after 9 a.m. (This week, I am focusing on Stonehurst Plantation, just off CR 210. It's a beautiful development, with a large number of homes.)
I began my day in my dress shoes, my golf pants and a golf shirt. I thought this would be appropriate attire to go door to door. About 15 minutes into my walk, I noticed that my feet were already getting sore. I continued on my way, talking to residents and putting postcards in the doors of those I did not speak to. My feet were aching.
By the time I got back to where I was parked (Thanks Andrea and Rich for the parking spot!) my feet felt quite tender. I drove home and got a much more comfortable pair of shoes. Had some lunch and came back out to go door to door. It was a great afternoon of walking door to door. I met some new people and invited them to the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend at their amenity center. One little girl was so excited to hear, that she began to tell her daddy all her favorite candies in the Easter egg.
I made it back to my van after almost six hours of walking. Just as I came upon my van I reached in my pocket to get my van key and it was gone! There was no way I was going to go back and trace my steps! I just put in 20,000+ steps! Thankfully Jennifer was off today and she came by and dropped off another key.
Faith Sharing on CR 210 or faith sharing anywhere involves wearing our shoes out so we can engage people where they are at. The older I am becoming in the Post-Christendom culture opens my eyes to the need now more than ever to meet people where they are at and share the love of Christ with my community.
Just a month ago, I sat at the bar and met a really nice guy by the name of Robert. (See previous post) He shared his story with me and I shared mine. We have emailed back and forth and this man now is worshipping with his wife at her church and I was inspired by Robert's story of cutting carbs out of his diet. Since then I have shed 25 pounds just by cutting carbs and being inspired by Robert.
Faith sharing is incarnational, which means that we can hide behind a screen or sit at the church and wait for someone to show up. It does not work that way anymore. Faith sharing is in the flesh. Faith sharing involves meeting people and it involves the process of developing relationships.
I am reminded of this as I read the story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman at the well. She had been married 5 times and was living with another man. Jesus encounters her at the well and begins a conversation with her. (Jews and Samaritans didn't associate with each other). This woman sees Jesus for who He truly is and proclaims to all in the town that day that Jesus is the Lord.
This would not have happened if Jesus would have followed cultural norms for the day (of not speaking to people "not like us.") However, Jesus met this woman where she was at, her life was transformed and she lived a life of hope and new meaning!
Wouldn't it be great if we could practice this type of living? It can and does bring life change to self and others! I write this to say that although I walked 11 miles today and feel exhausted from walking 5 of those miles in dress shoes (I don't recommend doing long walking in dress shoes), I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm having a great time meeting new people at the "well" and listening to their stories and bringing the hope of Christ to their lives.
This is where transformation begins...meeting people where they are at in life with the incarnational love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I now know. Wear comfortable shoes.
