barefoot holiness

Have you ever wondered why God told Moses at the burning bush that he needed to take off his sandals? The reason given was that he was on holy ground. But what does that mean? I haven't read commentaries on this but I do have some thoughts that have come to me since I have taken to gardening . . . barefoot.

One of the first clues I got that God and going barefoot might somehow be related was hearing from someone I highly respected who once commented that God told him that he needed to spend more time off of the concrete (that covers our metropolitan areas) in order to walk on the earth itself. While no mention was made of going barefoot, I put this together with the advice of another spiritual leader I respect who often travels overseas. He claims that if you take off your shoes and spend some time making skin to earth contact (what he actually suggested was to rub your bare feet around in the sand if you are near a beach) it will help to relieve jet lag. Both these comments suggest that the earth, the ground itself, has something to offer us in terms of our health or well-being. I wasn't really thinking about all this when I decided to go barefoot outside more, especially while working in the garden. It was primarily intuitive on my part - it somehow just felt better (once I got over the tenderfoot syndrome). But my anecdotal evidence for the virtue of going barefoot is based on more than just feelings. I've noticed that of my two persistent planters warts, one has completely disappeared and the other has been diminishing in size. Also, the toenail of my little toe on my left foot which has a fungus growing under it is showing signs of recovery as well. Where there used to be a solid mass under the nail, now that mass is like a honeycomb, as if the mass is beginning to dissolve! It looks like the time I tried to kill the fungus by soaking my foot in a vinegar solution. That did the trick too, but the fungus came right back when I quit the treatments. Now the fungus is on the retreat without my having to give it a second thought. All I have to do is to enjoy going barefoot!

We know that the earth was (and continues to be) definitely affected by mankind's sin. It does not produce fruit and vegetables as easily and effortlessly as it apparently did before the Fall. Nevertheless, the Scriptures say some remarkable things about the land. "If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you" (Lev. 18:28). Sounds like the land prefers holiness or righteousness over sin and evil! Even more amazing is that well known cry of the seraphim, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3)! As affected as the earth is by our sin it seems to have a capacity that we humans don't possess to contain God's glory. Not that we also can't become vehicles or containers for God's glory, but our propensities lie in the opposite direction (toward sin), while the earth or the land seems to more naturally lend itself to the glory of God.

The land, the ground we walk on, speaks to me of humility. To be humble is to always bear in mind that we are but dust. Pride is wanting to shake off the dust, to elevate oneself above and away from the dirt. Yet we are told that "the high and lofty One . . .who lives forever, whose name is holy" chooses to draw close, and live with, "him who is contrite and lowly in spirit." (Isaiah 57:15). This is what I call one of those "oxymoronic realities" of life. Two opposite realities that would not appear to fit together somehow coming together and being united. I've heard preachers talk about the "upside-down kingdom", how the way up to God is by going down (humbling oneself and taking up ones' cross). But the lost part of that message is that living closer to the earth (one example being, going barefoot whenever possible) is a very tangible and God-pleasing way to "walk humbly with your God." It may be uncomfortable at first - and yes, there are even dangers involved - but the longer you try it and stick with it you will discover that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Drawing closer to God is never an easy or painless process. But I'm convinced that the land has a vital role to play in that process, however you choose to connect with it (there are other ways to do this than by going barefoot :-). I freely admit we all have different callings and we aren't all called to live with dirt under our nails. But it sure doesn't hurt and I'm discovering it can actually help.

Increase your awareness - go barefoot!