Beautiful feet and work boots

The boots sit on my counter this morning, taunting me.  Asking if they should stay. The very question I am asking myself.  I even sent a weekend text, to my mom and two sisters with a picture, asking only,  “Boots?”
Implied- should I keep them?

I don’t normally care enough to ask for feedback.  It’s just that I hadn’t really asked for them. It started  when they arrived at my door, with a package of a few items to try out.   They weren’t expensive, per se, but more than I was thinking of spending on any boots right now.  In fact, I wasn’t even thinking of buying any boots at all.  All of mine fit and looked fine, and I don’t get too fussy these days.  Thank  you very much, but one cute pair is probably more than enough.  I told my husband as much and I think he wasn’t unpleased, really, and maybe even relieved,  at what I wouldn’t be buying and the cost I’d be saving us.  But after I said, “no, thanks” to them, I  questioned. 

For a half minute. Then I sent the text and waited to hear.  The answers wouldn’t necessarily be mine, I was just curious.  Uncharacteristically so, even. 
What ensued was a whole line of questioning.

“Are the comfy?” 
“Will you wear them?” “Where will you wear them?”
“Will you wear them often enough?”

Volume versus cost versus price versus practicality versus fun.  Fashion, function and form battling it out like it’s some kind of contest, or at least a conquest.  The girls gave them the thumbs up, though I still wasn’t convinced either way.

 But these  boots, trying inch by inch, we’re trying  to get closer to my heart, and to get on my feet.  Undecided, I left them out overnight.  Today was decision time- return or keep.  

This morning was like many other mornings, contemplating all of the things in prayer and later, in conversations.   The social issues, the emotional, physical and spiritual wellness of our kids. The desire that I have to be sure to lead  with love, but also to stand up and fight what’s wrong, so it doesn’t stay wrong.  (Not people, things. Ideas.  Policies. That’s my take at least.) 
 Trying to move forward in integrity, in alignment with the calling to love and serve.  Trying to figure out what that looks like, hour by hour, day by day.  

Coming back into the kitchen from buzzing about, I see them again. Waiting. Looking at those boots again, standing like good little soldiers waiting for the decision,  I hear the words from two years ago. Words that I said in a different conversation, a different context, but that still stand out, still ring true today.  The answer to what we need in the world. 

WE NEED  LOVE WITH WORK BOOTS ON.   

Then immediately I think of the scriptures  that I came before my eyes this morning. Psalm 103. The one about listening for his commands.  

“17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18     of those who are faithful to his covenant,
    of those who obey his commandments!

19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
    from there he rules over everything.

20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
    you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
    listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
    who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
    

I don’t know if the scripture is talking only of angels. I mean, I’m not sure what the author intended, and maybe it was talking only about a gels following His commands. But I also know that those who follow Christ, the same can be true for them.   We can listen for His directions, like Samuel, “Speak Lord your servant is listening.”

Or how in Proverbs 8, Wisdom says “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.”

So yes, it can be true for us too.  We can listen for and do as He guides us and shows us. Optional. It can be.  

He does not force us to do what He wants.  He is not some tyrant, the likes of which we see here on earth.  Not a tyrant that comes to the earth, in force, He is a loving kind and gracious, and He invites us to work with Him. We too, invite Him, just as He invited us- in Love. So many blessings are promised to those who seek, and I go in search of more scriptures about this, to understand more, more about these assignments.

He does not force us to do what He wants.  He is not some tyrant, the likes of which we see here on earth.  He is a loving kind and gracious God, who invites us to work with Him.   Invites us. Yes, He has good, and wonderful plans, but He needs humans to want, and to be a part of them. To seek Him and His ways. So many blessings are promised to those who seek, and I go in search of more scriptures about this, to understand more, more about these assignments.

Then I come across this beautiful scripture .  This is exactly it.  (And I also immediately have a new life verse, describing my heartbeat, His heartbeat assignment.)

“The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.”  Isaiah 50:4

There are assignments that each of us have, and a million causes trying to get our attention. Feeling pulled recently in different directions, I was talking to Him about it. “The world will play your headtstrings and leave you feeling frustrated and defeated. When you stay connected to mine for you, there will always be Hope.” The key then is to make sure we’re letting Him inform our heartstrings. For every assignment comes with strategy to fulfill it and Hope to know it can happen.

There is so much to see and to say and to work for. Good causes at every turn.  The question isn’t just what is to be done, or what can be done.  But what am I supposed to do.  

Love is a very patient and thorough advisor, and wisdom along with it. What I don’t get the first time the Holy Spirit will show me, again and again, in different ways. Like these works boots, for example, trying to speak to me for two years about assignments. Love always tells a better story, uncovers the one I was missing, the heart beating just beneath the surface of things. I can only put my ear to better listen.

Each day, yes, each day, “God what do you have for me today.  What are you wanting ME to do? What is your heartbeat for me, and for those around me, those in my sphere of influence. What does Love have to say today, and what are my marching orders?”  

It’s not just “marching orders.” It’s a beautiful invitation to be a part of what God, in His great Love, is doing today.  To go where and to do what we are being invited to do and say and go. Love puts on work-boots.

I look at those boots again.  I think of all the same questions that were asked of them naturally, last night.
 Do they fit, are they comfortable.   Will you wear them? Where will you wear them? Are they worth the cost? 

And that one stands out the most. 
Are they worth the cost? 

I think about the one last thing my sister said. “A good pair of boots you’ll wear for 10 years. It’ll be worth it.”I look at those boots again and I see it.   Love with work boots.  Assignments. Cost. Comfort.  And the one thing that matters most.  “It’ll be worth it.”

No cost is too high if God is calling you, and any work of love will last, well beyond years.  Because Love remains.  Long after the boots fall apart, long beyond the assignment that brought it, long even beyond us on earth.

Sometimes a thing shows up on your door.  An assignment, a task to walk in , a call to wear something, to do something.   And you don’t know why or how.  You didn’t even ask for it.  You didn’t even “need” it.  But for some reason, someone must need it.
You hear it. You’ve been listening and these new work boots, the ones you didn’t even anticipate, God is calling you put them on.

It doesn’t matter even if anyone else likes them. You can now, you do slip them onto your feet.  Because once you count the cost, you MUST.  

Whether or not you know where they will take you or how long it will go on, you must walk in that direction.  Day by day, hour by hour.  Asking the Lord.   “I sought the Lord and He heard me.  He delivered me from all of my fears.”  And sometimes He will use you to deliver (FREE in some translations) other people from theirs.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood but we fight for love and for truth, and to help free people from bondage.  There’s all kinds of bondage, so which one is God asking you to help people find freedom? What love boots are yours to wear, what are your marching orders? What wonderful works of the Lord is your life meant to show?
Show people. The people trapped in bondage. The people whom God never gives up on.  The only question is: Do we?

If there’s something you’re called to do today in love,  if there’s an invitation you have to participate in Christ bringing reconciliation and hope and healing to a hurting world, do it.  Do it well.   And don’t worry about the cost.  The reward lasts for generations. 

Love goes on.  Love marches on.  Only question is, will we march with it? Will we help bring it?  
Beautiful are the feet that bring good news.  

“Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will enter your gates no longer. Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For this is what the LORD says: “When I sold you into exile, I received no payment. Now I can redeem you without having to pay for you.” This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Long ago my people chose to live in Egypt. Now they are oppressed by Assyria.  What is this?” asks the LORD. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news ,the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israelc reigns! The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the LORD returning to Jerusalem. Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the LORD has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem.” 

Isaiah 52: 1-9