FROM KIRK WALDEN, EDITOR: For regulars here, you know 1st Faith is where anyone has an opportunity to tell a story of faith. Why? Because one of the strongest ways to build a friend’s faith is through telling our own story.
A story which captures me is the one of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It’s a story only mentioned once in the four gospels, but even today Christians focus on this moment’s significance and lessons.
Clearly, this act was one of servanthood. Here is a king, washing his followers’ grimy, calloused feet. This doesn’t make my bucket list of “must do’s.” But it was for Jesus.
Which creates a question. What is a modern-day equivalent of foot-washing? May I offer one, which I often overlook?
In today’s world, we’re wedded to IPhones, Droids, laptops. We’re filled with social media. Any conversation is easily derailed by the distraction of a call, a “Let me just text him/her back really quickly” or a need to rush off to the next thing in our busy lives.
Today, we don’t worry much about dirty feet. Still, our lives get messy. Sometimes, the only way to wash off our emotional dirt is to vent to a friend. Modern-day foot washing? Listening. Listening, really listening, matters.
Our modern dirt pops up when we face the real-life challenge of living out our faith in a mixed-up world. When the wind and rain of circumstances hits us from all directions and we try to make sense of things, our spiritual feet get dirty. Our dirt may not be some sin, or a situation demanding a quick fix. It’s just stuff. Messy stuff.
Jesus, on his final night, stopped. He took time to thoroughly wash each disciple’s feet. And we can be sure He listened to his friends as He carefully cleaned those feet which journeyed alongside him over three years.
Sometimes, the best example of servanthood is two available ears. No judgment, no quick fixes, no pat answers.
If we offer this gift, perhaps our friend will experience refreshing as the overwhelming circumstances of life wash away. And the feet our friend needs to walk this journey are once again clean, ready for the next step, wherever it leads.
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