“A Pair of Shoes” by Vincent van Gogh, Source/Photographer Yorck Project: 10,000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (ISBN 3936122202) (PD-ArtlPD-old-100)
We know from the Bible that both shoes and sandals were in use in Jesus’ day. Ordinary people might go barefoot at times, but the absence of shoes could, also, be symbolic – whether of respect, deprivation, shame, or the transfer of property, depending on context.
These are the words God spoke to Moses, as he approached the burning bush:
“ ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground’ ” (Ex. 3: 5).
Compare them with the words of the prophet, Amos, regarding the sins of Israel:
“Thus says the Lord: … ‘[T]hey sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes’ ” (Amos 2:6).
Amos lived over 700 years before Christ, but his words still resonate with us.
Designer Shoes
What do shoes say about our own culture? Modern designer shoes can cost as much as a house or car payment – this when homes are in foreclosure, and “reality” shows depict repossession by way of entertainment. Shoes have been wrapped in platinum fabric and studded with actual rubies or diamonds, running into the millions.
Shoes and Crippling Illness
Nearly half the world’s population exists on less than $2.50 per day. Many will never own a single pair of shoes. Two billion of our brothers and sisters suffer from painful, crippling, and potentially fatal parasitic diseases that could have been prevented (or their frequency reduced) by shoes alone.
Here are a few:
- Podoconiosis (a form of elephantiasis) arises when silica penetrates the skin of barefoot farm workers. It is found in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and elsewhere.
- Tungiasis penetrates the skin of those wading, washing, or swimming in infected water. The parasite, found in tropical Africa, causes painful swelling of the toes and feet. This can progress to gangrene and death.
- Hookworm causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss (in children, often retarding growth). Hookworm can be found in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Schistosomiasis causes cough, muscle aches, fever, and chills. Repeated infections can damage the liver, lungs, bladder, and intestines. The disease is particularly prevalent in school children.
The relationship of poverty, limited access to education, and illness has been widely documented by UNICEF and other organizations. Samaritan’s Feet International http://www.samaritansfeet.org/ has taken on the ambitious mission of providing shoes to destitute children and adults worldwide. Read more…
The motto E Pluribus Unum appears on the Great Seal of the United States: Out of many, one. The words are inscribed on a scroll the American eagle carries in its mouth. In its talons, the eagle carries an olive branch signifying peace and thirteen arrows signifying war.
The sentiment “Out of many, one” was originally applied to the relationship of the thirteen colonies with one another and the federal government. Read more…
Once again, this great nation of ours celebrates its birthday. Once again, we will drink lemonade, eat hot dogs, and shoot off fireworks. We will listen to band concerts under the stars. All as it should be.
Millions of men and women sweated and sacrificed to create this nation. Hundreds of thousands gave their very lives for rights we often take for granted.
How many will make time on July 4th to thank God for the devotion of those who came before? To thank Him for the bountiful grace shed on this nation?
God bless America.
“May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples…” (Gen. 28: 3).
Lord God, we thank You for Your many blessings toward our nation.
On this the nation’s birthday, we ask that You draw our many peoples together. Make us again one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
And grant us peace.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
“The God-fearing Job” by Gyula Kardos, Source/Photographer http://biblia.hu/a_biblia_a_magyar_kepzomuveszetben/ (PD-ArtlPD-old-100)
Job, in his grief, sought to plead his case to God; sought to demonstrate that he was a man of integrity, undeserving of the trials inflicted on him. Even in his misery, Job was certain God knew his character and would render justice.
God knows us. More than that He loves us, and walks with us through our trials. We are never alone, no matter how abandoned we may feel.
There is anguish on this earth. To state otherwise would either be a lie or a delusion. Children die of cancer. Good men are attacked by mobs. But we know God’s character. Even when there is no sign of hope, God’s character remains constant. He is love Incarnate. He died that we might live.
“Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?” (Job 31: 4).
Lord God, You fashioned us in the womb. You know our comings and goings, every step before we take it. You know our every heartbeat and heartache.
In times of darkness and times of joy, we turn to You. You are ever with us, though we see You not. Help us to follow wherever You may lead.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
These lines are frequently attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier. The verses are actually by the prolific American poet, Edgar A. Guest from a poem entitled “Answered Prayer”.
Decide for yourself on the quality of the poem.
Answered Prayer
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing that I asked for, all that I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most blessed…
As Martin Luther put it, “We pray for silver, but God often gives us gold instead.”
For those interested, Prayer by O. Hallesby, PhD (1931), a reverent and thoughtful analysis of prayer, may be found at www.prayermeetings.org/…/Hallesby_O_Prayer_with_note-space.doc .
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
As legal professionals, most of us have worked through lunch. Most, for that matter, have worked through dinner, even through the night. We know the after-hours cleaning staff by name, and bring our briefcases along on vacation.
We juggle priorities for a living; wrestle with adversaries; plead with judges and juries. We take calls at midnight; pace dim hallways; drive down rutted and forsaken roads. We meet clients in dingy diners and basement apartments; take depositions at bedside in nursing homes.
Most of us would be too embarrassed to admit that we share our clients’ pain. We simply do our best to represent them.
This is sacrificial living. To live sacrificially is to offer our lives wholly to God; to give God our love, will, reason, and bodies as borne out in daily practical service to others. In this – not money, prestige, or fame – lies the true glory of the profession.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).
Lord God, You gave Your Son as the ultimate sacrifice. May our lives, too, be pleasing to You.
Give us strength when we falter. Guard us against growing hard of heart, that we may never grow weary of pursuing justice.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
“He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail or be discouraged, ’til He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Is. 42: 3-4).
In every heart there is initially a longing for justice, the recognition of God’s law. This forms the basis for conscience. Standards of morality may differ from one society to the next. Sensitivity of the conscience will differ from one individual to another. But from the start, we bear the handprint of our Maker.
This does not imply that we will never sin. To the contrary, conscience is intended to warn us against sin. It points even those entirely unacquainted with Jewish or Christian Scripture toward God. Read more…
Detail from “Jesus and the Children”, Stained Glass Window by Franz Borgias Mayer at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA, Photo by Andreas Praefcke (Licensed-PD-Art)
The children were lined up for lunch in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school. At the head of the table was a pile of apples. The nuns had made a large sign, and posted it on the apple tray: “Take only ONE. God is watching.” Farther along the lunch line, at the other end of the table, was a pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had scribbled a note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”
Sweet joke. God is not, of course, stingy. He made – and watches over – apples and chocolate chip cookies alike. Not to mention children.
“ ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven’ ” (Matt. 19:14).
Lord Jesus, we lift our little ones up to You at this time.
To our shame, there are children in our world – in our own cities even – without adequate food or clothing; without adequate shelter. Daily there are children exposed to guns, drugs, and alcohol. Daily there are children neglected or abused.
Having borne the brunt of our sins, You better than anyone know the impact of those sins on our children. Reach out to our little ones, especially those at risk. Surround them with Your love and protection.
Amen
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
At the time of this writing there were two major abuse cases on trial in Pennsylvania: Msgr. William Lynn, alleged to have facilitated the systematic cover up by Catholic Church officials of pedophile priests; and former Penn State University coach Jerry Sandusky, alleged to have molested ten boys.
Each year, some six million children in the United States are sexually or physically abused. Since abuse is so common and the scars of abuse can last a lifetime, there is every possibility an attorney will at some point in his or her career encounter an abuse survivor, whether as a client or otherwise.
This article is an attempt to explore the emotional and spiritual ramifications of abuse, and provide Christian attorneys some guidance in dealing sensitively (and biblically) with abuse victims. Not all abuse victims, are, of course, Christian. However, the principles outlined here are intended to be universal.
Predators – Responsible Adults
It must be said at the outset that children are NEVER responsible for the abuse inflicted upon them. The idea of a “bad or “seductive” child is a lie perpetrated by child molesters, a rationale to excuse their heinous actions.
Predators are often manipulative, convincing child victims that they brought on the violation; consented to the violation; will not be believed, if the violation is reported; will be sent away from home, if the violation is reported; will place their parents (or pets) in danger, if the violation is reported, etc.
As a consequence, victims will often experience a misplaced sense of guilt and shame. Read more…
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the many paralegals, law students, and legal secretaries with whom attorneys serve. Though we take the bows, the support of these capable and devoted individuals is essential to our success.
Who else types and catalogues (not to mention copies) thousands of pages a year for us? Who else manages to find not only the documents we misplaced, but the most obscure of cases on point for our cause?
Who rushes to Court to bring us new information in the midst of a trial? Who stays late evenings at our side, types multiple revisions, comes in on snow days, collates motion papers on the floor…and puts up with us, in general? Read more…
A Lawyer's Prayers 