Dr. David D. Young
August 19, 2007
Psalm 119: 57-59, 103-105
Hebrews 12: 12-14
"Where Your Feet Go"

For those of you who know me – you are probably aware that I have really appreciated the work of Charles Schulz. Picture Snoopy outdoors on a long, exhausting jog.

"This is hard on us lungs, if I start complaining, you’re all in trouble – shut up heart! Why do we feet have to do all the work? How about toes? You think it’s easy being a toe? You guys are always complaining…we ears can hear you way up here! Besides, it’s us legs who really do the running…all I know is, running is hard on the back…backs should be home in bed. How about noses? I hate jokes about running noses! Lips are made for kissing, not running…we need more kissing…I’m hungry!

Ha! I knew the stomach would start complaining pretty soon! We arms never complain…that’s a laugh! If it isn’t bursitis, it’s tennis elbow! We still say it’s we feet who do all the work…you think it’s easy being a finger? Ha! Just try being an elbow sometime! How can the long-distance runner ever get lonely?"

This morning I want to talk about what at first may seem a bit unusual – feet. Have you ever really taken a look at your feet? Feet come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. People don’t talk very much about feet in public. But today in public worship we remember the importance of feet in Biblical times and hopefully we will make some connections with who we are in modern times.

Since the beginning of civilization – feet have been the primary means of mobility. They allow us to come and go – to be here and then go there. Feet are basic to our biological nature.

Feet – because of their importance in the Old and New Testament times – stand for more then just feet. They are symbolic of power and mobility – they are symbolic of a person’s way or way of life. They are a symbol of learning – remember the disciples sitting at Jesus’ feet? Or what about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet? As a symbol of service.

The scriptures are full of references to feet. Remember when Moses saw the burning bush – he heard a voice say, "Moses, take off your shoes – you’re standing on holy ground." Or the time Jesus told his disciples when he commissioned them on their mission saying, "If any town does not receive you – shake off the dust from your sandals and leave that place."

of our PsalmFeet don’t seem to carry the richness of meaning they used to. Feet are important today – but it just seems we pay more attention to the latest style of shoe than to what lies beneath the leather and lace. And I’m not speaking in a literal sense – but in a symbolic one.

"When I think of thy ways, I turn my feet to thy testimonies." Verse 59 or our Psalm text. Why does the Psalmist refer so much to feet – at least twenty times feet are mentioned in the Psalms?

Could it be because of the integral connection between trust, praise and walking that the Psalmist knows to be at the foundation of the life of faith? And what about our directional course in life? Doesn’t our faith have a lot to do with that? And doesn’t life direction have a direct correlation to our identity?

"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet."

So, we are exploring the theme of walking or rather, feet. Surely, I’m talking about more than those two odd shaped appendages at the bottom of our legs with ten toes – and that sometimes get warts, bunions and blisters. What I’m really talking about is – who are we – our identity.

Psychologist, Erik Erikson states our need for identity straight-forwardly when he says,

"For, indeed, in the social jungle of human existence there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity."

And yet, how do we know who we are? For I’m reminded of the young college student who said,

"When I’m at school I’m liberal, when I’m home I’m conservative, and when I’m alone I’m confused!"

Let me submit for your careful consideration this morning that our feet have a lot to do with who we are. For if you want to know who you really are – just watch your feet awhile.

The story is told of a young, attractive actress – who was so obsessed with putting her best side forward that when she went to parties and it came time for her to leave – she left by backing her way out. How sad that she could not turn from life’s experiences to face full on the next step of life’s journey – without having to back up first.

If you really want to know who you are, rather than who you think you are, just watch where your feet go. Well, where do our feet or cars take us? I could mention such places as shopping malls, Greenwich Avenue, clothing stores and several others – but I won’t. And the question is – where does God want them to go?

"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you God?" Micah 6:8

This past week as I prepared for this sermon – I actually paid attention (literally) to where my feet went. And it was a great revelation to find out I wasn’t quite the person I’d like to think I am. I’d like to think I really care about the poor – and I do care about the poor – just as many of you do – but my feet have not taken me to places of need as much as they might have.

Newspaper columnist, Ann Landers once wrote,

"You are what you are when nobody is looking."

Watch where your feet go – if you really want to know who you are. I lift up these truths about feet not to lay a guilt trip on myself or anyone else. But rather so that we can take an honest look and see who we really are.

God already knows.

God knows our hopes and dreams – our fears and frustrations and God knows our shortcomings – along with our good works and intentions. God knows us better than we know ourselves and God knows what is best for us.

So as Christians we place ourselves along side the scriptures and seek to do God’s will knowing that we fall short – and yet not growing discouraged when we do. The Psalmist puts it plainly,

"How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Is God’s word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path? Do we follow in the footsteps of Christ? Probably not always. And yet we never lose sight of the vision. The important thing is that we follow. And wherever we are led we can rest assured that we will always be in God’s love and care.

So direction is closely related to identity – because one of the basic questions to our very existence is – "Where am I going in life?" The answer to that directional question will have a direct bearing on who we become – both as persons and in our relationship to God.

Identity – who are we and where are we going? I’ve always been led to believe that who I am determines where I’ll go – but the reverse is equally true. For if you really want to know who you are, rather than who you think you are, watch where your feet go. Identity – where your feet stand – what you believe is the internal part of identity. Where your feet go is the external part of your identity. Both are important. And so our feet can be continual reminders of who we are – if only we will look.

If you want to know who you really are rather than who you think you are, watch your feet! Our feet can take us to places of suffering and compassion – because our feet follow the Lord – who expects not perfection – but hopes for faith, trust, caring, self-giving and feet that follow.

Amen!