Whose Shoes Are These?
I heard a similar quote not long ago and it has
consistently stayed at the forefront of my mind. I guess it really struck me
because I can relate so well. I could've titled this blog post any number of
things: "How am I Supposed to Walk in These?" "You expect me to
wear those?" "Those aren't my size!" You get the picture.
Being in a new place often has its challenges.
Starting something new is only new for those involved in the process. For all
others outside that inner circle, very little has changed or should change.
Their expectations remain the same, whether realistic or not. Therein lies the
problem.
I suppose by now you are expecting to read on
about how the expectations of others can make transition difficult. You're
probably expecting me to voice my thoughts on how I feel about that and on just
how much of a struggle that's been for me. I'm sorry, but this is a different
post.
Most people think I have little feet. I don't.
They're average, size 7 for just about everything except sandals or boots. Go
down and up a 1/2 size for those, respectively. Yet for all the shoes I own,
I've figured out one thing. All the shoes I own fit me better than they do
anyone else.
I have shoes I wear weekly, some only on special
occasions, some in specific seasons, some in certain types of weather and some
only around the house. I take very good care of my shoes, storing them in their
original boxes because I buy shoes I love and I want to keep them for as long
as I can.
I have found that finding the right pair of
shoes, for the right outfit is not always as easy as it sounds. I usually have
the pair in my head before I ever see it in a store. Settling for less than
what I have imagined is not easy, and thankfully not something I have to do
often. I can usually find what I want if I'm patient. I'm learning that the
same is true for starting a new chapter in life.
I think we get it all wrong more often than not.
Hearing these words, "You've got big shoes to fill," is a lie at best
and much farther from the actual truth than most of us realize. Whoever held
the position in which you now sit has walked away, shoes and all. They've left
behind only a legacy, whether good or bad, which you must now contend with. The
only shoes you can fill are the ones for which you presently own.
In life we have the opportunity on various
occasions to make a lasting impression. We have been entrusted with remarkable
tools in which to do this. They're called gifts. We are each uniquely created
with the fingerprint of God upon our lives in various expressions of His
character and nature. I carry His quick wit and humor, His love for people and
His heart for His children to walk into their destiny.
That is why, you won't ever hear me say to
anyone, "You've got big shoes to fill." The shoes you wear are the
ones you need to walk into the things that God has called you to do.
We don't have to walk around clumsily trying to
fit into another's shoes, trying on pair after pair only to be constantly
presented with the same results. These shoes don't fit! They're not supposed to
because they are not yours.
At times our footwear may need to change to
accommodate the task at hand, but whether they are running shoes, a classy
dress shoe or a casual flat, the shoe still belongs to you because you are the
one required to walk in it.
It’s time we stop viewing ourselves in light of
another's accomplishments or at times, even their mistakes. We don't have to
re-invent the wheel, but if God is calling us to a new place or to inhabit new
territory then He is not asking us to fill someone else's shoes. He is simply
asking us to walk out His plans and purposes for our lives in this new arena.
The shoes you have will be good enough. Most likely, you've been breaking them
in for some time without even realizing what lay ahead. It's just that now that
they're needed for something different, they don't seem good enough.
Consider this. No runner would ever buy a new pair of shoes for
which to run a marathon. They know that new running shoes would not only hinder
their performance during the race, leaving their feet blistered and swollen. A
pair of well, broken in running shoes are best for the race ahead. In the same
regard, your old broken in shoes, will be good enough for the task before you.
The fit is perfect!
Wherever you are and whatever task has been
placed before you, is yours and yours alone. It doesn't matter whatever
happened before you stood in that place. It is now where you hold authority and for which you are responsible.
Whose shoes will you wear? Whoever was before you took theirs with them. That
must mean that the ones you have will have to do. Thankfully, they will!
Comments
Post a Comment
...and your thoughts?