Pedicures & Perspective

It’s always hard to get up in the morning, but this particular day it was especially difficult. I dreaded standing up. My heel was cracked and had bled the night before. While it didn't hurt after a night's sleep, I knew that the first few minutes of walking around on it would bring a shooting pain. The broken, tender skin would eventually adjust. Each step would be less painful. The first steps are always most difficult. So, no, I'd rather not get up this morning.

I have never been proud of my feet. They are smaller than most, but they aren't particularly pretty. I have never been high-maintenance when it comes to my "hooves" as my dad used to call them, but living as a missionary in Russia took an even greater toll on them. In the winter, my dry cracked feet could stay covered, but in the summer when air conditioning was a rare luxury at a shopping mall, they were more exposed. Not only could you see them, but they became even uglier as all the walking on filthy streets made them dirty and grimy. I could relate a little better to the cultural practice of washing one's feet upon entering a home. As soon as I walked in the door in Russia I would take my shoes off, as is the custom.  In the summer, I would kick off my sandals and walk straight to the bathroom to rinse my nasty feet. The cool water was cleansing and refreshing!

"How beautiful on the mountains
   are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,
Breaking the news that all's well,
   proclaiming good times, announcing salvation,
   telling Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Isaiah 52:7 (The Message)

How ironic that taking the good news of peace with God resulted in dirty, cracking, bloody feet. {Tweet This} I certainly wouldn't call them beautiful. What makes them extra-ordinarily attractive?

The reference is to a messenger who brings "good news" in the midst of a battle. Think hand-to-hand, ugly combat, slicing and chopping with knives and swords, brutal killing – the loss of dear friends and comrades, the threat of violence to your family members who are taking refuge behind the walls you are defending. In that context, I can see how the feet of a messenger bringing news that the battle is won would be beautiful. No foot model could boast prettier feet.

When will I ever remember to look beyond the surface?
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Every once in a while, we see with His eyes first. In the midst of the battle, we see what He sees - beautiful feet. He is always viewing us through the bigger picture, the deeper meaning. Instead of neatly pedicured feet, he describes feet that carry good news to a desperately needy soul. The world has a fickle, shallow view of what beauty is. One moment it is voluptuous, the next – ultra thin. It says our noses are too big and our freckles should be bleached. It says that we should worship the sun so that our skin will not be pale, which eventually leads to wrinkles and cancer. It tells us that we are never slim enough, our hair is not the right color, and age is our nemesis. It doesn't know what it is searching for and it will never be satisfied. It tells us that God didn't quite get it right when He knit us together in our mothers' wombs. It tells us that we should spend our time, energy and money on improving our shell.

But, what if we saw ourselves as God sees us? What if we saw one another through His prism? Our lives would look much, much differently.... and so would our world. Instead of obsessing about our appearance, we are serving those in need. How beautiful would we look to those we reach out to love and serve? What if you knew you were loved and experienced ever-increasing fruit in your life as you cling to the Vine of Jesus. That kind of love is not conditional, based on the fruit, but abiding in Him draws you close enough to hear the constant whisper of His consuming love for you because you are resting your head on the heartbeat of the Knitter who created you.

How am I defining beauty today? What am I doing to become more beautiful? 

About Cheryl

Cheryl is on staff with Cru where she currently serves with digital strategies and in launching a new ministry among Millennials in cities across the country. For 12 years she called Russia home as she helped give national leadership to the campus ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.

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