My Day Without Shoes

Today, Thursday, April 8, 2010, Tom's shoes (which is, if you don't already know, an organization that donates a pair of shoes to needy children for each pair you buy) asked people across the nation to ditch their shoes and go barefoot. Why? It wasn't to seem cool as part of some subcultural movement, and it wasn't to bring attention to a brand of footwear. It was to bring awareness to what a blessed life we as Americans live. We take so much for granted in our comfy little bubbles. Tom's wanted people to experience what children in Third World countries go through everyday: a life without shoes.

I participated in this event today. I must admit I cheated - I rode my bike to class from my apartment and foot pedals are hard and pointy. I know this kind of goes against the point. Children in Third World countries deal with a lot more than hard, plastic bumps jabbing uncomfortably into their feet. I did shed my shoes when I got off my bike, though, and I went from 8:00am until 1:00pm sans zapatos. It was quite liberating, though I highly doubt the sidewalks and paths of Mississippi State's campus are nothing like, say Rwanda or parts of South America. It was quite an experience when I caught the eyes of a few other barefooters as we exchanged silent high-fives.

However, I expected a lot more people to participate. When I asked a few people why, I got responses like, "Oh, I would have, but I had to go to work," or "It's just so dirty on campus," or "It's a good idea, bu I really don't see the point."

Well the point I see is this. For one day, a group of people decided to experience first-hand the hardships other fellow human beings endure. This wasn't as much an awareness campaign as a recommended shock of reality. Yes, I got to tell people why I wasn't wearing shoes and hopefully they were inspired to respond to this need. And there's the beauty. We can help. One for one. Such a simple, taken-for-granted item can drastically change the quality of life for children around the world.

Day without shoes, you made me think. You made me share. You made me pray.
God, help me to not stay focused on my tiny, sheltered, spoiled life. Help me to see the big picture.
SDG