But wait.
There's more.
This morning we went to Brishen's orthodontist appointment, and Brishen, Basia, and I were all barefoot. I would have gladly worn shoes in the office and taken them off as we left. Brishen was the one who insisted that we stay barefoot even there. What difference would it make in the scheme of the world? Let me tell you:
Go into a place like that without shoes. I dare you to not feel a bit of embarrassment. I dare you to not wonder what people think of you. I dare you to not think of those places that children simply cannot go because they don't own a single pair of shoes. I dare you to not have more understanding and more compassion. I dare you to not care a little bit more about someone far away and wonder what more you can do. I dare you to not explain the plight of other children to your own children a little more clearly. I dare you to not want to do more next year (and even tomorrow), to not want to involve more people next time, to not want to make a difference.
And wait. There's more.
For our family, at least.
We are in the process of adopting a child from Over There. Our child is alive right now and in an orphanage. Our child, very likely, is not wearing shoes today. Our very own son or daughter, brother or sister, is one of Those Children who did not get to wake up this morning and chose which pair of shoes best matched his or her outfit or agenda for the day. How can we not feel a little more connected on this day as we think of him or her AND all the others out there who share the same plight?
Today, we are walking a mile in their (lack of) shoes because we envision a world where some of our excess can be shared.
It does matter, even if the only place it matters first is in the stirrings of your own heart.
1 comment:
Great article on MSN news today about Tom's Shoes. So good that you follow your heart with helping others. I did wear shoes today, but I am helping in other ways. Cleaned out all my shoes and Mike's too and giving them to those that need them.
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