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The Shoes
June Marie Johnson
My alarm went off --
it was Sunday again I was tired --
it was my one day to
sleep in.
But the guilt I'd have felt the rest of the day
Would have been too much so I'd go I'd pray.
At the church I bowed my head in humble prayer
Before I closed my eyes I saw his shoes there
The shoes of man sitting next to me
Were touching my own and I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side I thought"
why do our soles have to
touch?"
It bothered me so he was glued to my shoe.
But it didn't seem to bother him
much.
Then the prayer began:
"Heavenly Father" someone said--
But I thought
"Does this man with the shoes have no pride?"
They were dusty worn scratched end to end.
What's worse there were holes on the side!
"Thank You for blessings" the prayer went on.
The shoe man said a quite "amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer.
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best
When walking through that door?
"Well this certainly isn't it"
I thought. Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer ended and songs of praise began.
The shoe man was loud sounding proud as he sang.
He lifted the rafters his hands raised high.
The Lord surely heard his voice
from the sky.
Then the offering was passed what I threw in was steep.
The shoe man reached into his pockets so deep.
And I tried to see what he
pulled out to put in
Then I heard a soft "clink" as when silver hits
tin.
The sermon bored me to tears--
And no lie--
It was the same for the shoe man
For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service as is custom here.
We must greet the visitors and
show them good cheer.
But I was moved inside to want to meet this man.
So after the closing I shook
his hand.
He was old his skin dark his hair a mess.
I thanked him for coming for being our guest.
He said
"My name's Charlie
glad to meet you my friend"
And there were tears in his eyes --
but he had a wide grin.
"Let me explain" he said wiping his eyes face bowed low.
"I've been coming for months you're the first to say "Hello."
I know I don't look like all the rest.
But I always try to look my best."
"I polish my shoes before my long walk
But by the time I get here they're
as dirty as chalk."
My heart fell to my knees but I held back my tears.
He continued
"And I
must apologize for sitting so near."
"But I know when I get here I must look a sight.
And I thought. . .
if I touched you our souls might unite."
I was silent for a moment knowing anything I said
Would pale in comparison
so I spoke from my heart not my head.
"Oh you've touched me" I said.
"And taught me in part
That the
best of a man is what's in his heart."
The rest I thought this man will never know. . .
How thankful I am that he touched my soul!
ŠJune Marie Johnson
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