trail of footprints in snowThere was an article in the Denver Post this week that immediately grabbed my attention. This was the headline of the story. “Hikers are losing their shoes in Colorado’s high country, requiring rescues.” My immediate reaction was out loud laughter, not because I wanted to make fun of anyone, but because I related to at least part of the story.

The other day I walked to work and was post-holing through deep pockets of snow to do so. At one point, one of my hiking boots came off and it took me 1 minute or so using frozen fingers to retrieve it. Apparently some back country folks have not been as fortunate. They have been losing shoes in the backcountry meaning they have had to be rescued because no one can walk barefoot through the snow for mile after mile.

While I do not have a wall of a variety of shoes at home to wear, there is a particular kind of shoe we perhaps should all be wearing particularly at this time in our lives, whether or not we go post-holing in the backcountry.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 6:15, “Put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace.” In the letter to the Philippians 4:7 is this verse. “The peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.”

Illness. Violence. Mass Shootings. Mental health challenges. War. With all that is going on afar and right here within our Chapel family, it seems to me we all need to wake up each morning and put on shoes that will help us spread the peace of God, which means the love of God all around us, wherever we find ourselves, and to whomever it is that is standing before us.

While we may have little control over external events or happenings, we certainly can choose how to respond and from where I sit, responding with a spirit of God’s peace and love is precisely what God is inviting each of us to do. God’s love is the ultimate balm that calms fear, restores hope, and creates space for healing in mind, body, and spirit.

So whatever path you find yourself upon in this mud and post-holing season, let’s put on shoes that instills peace and spreads the love of Jesus that changes everything.