How we walk in the world is varied, a simple and complicated path which we hone over time, understanding the steps more and more as we go. This morning I took a walk in the early hours before heading into the bulk of my day. The beauty and peace of the summer day unfolded like the gift it was. I noticed other neighbors heading out into the morning, some with pets in tow, others with the sleepy-headed look of their younger selves falling around them. All walking.

Today’s steps were made in a brand new pair of running shoes, shoes that kept surprising my eyes with each forward motion. The new shoes were unlike any I have chosen before but were necessary given some pain I have developed in my right heel. I have been trying to do all the right things to care for these precious feet that keep me moving and I remembered that my shoes were perhaps over a year old, old for running shoes, and were run down in places that may have contributed to the pain I was feeling. What set these particular shoes apart was the vast array of color. Neon pink, orange, yellow, green, woven in a rainbow against a gray backdrop. They are completely unlike anything I have purchased before.

In the past, I have chosen understated running shoes. Gray. Black. Nothing that would call attention to my feet or my exercising presence. But these shoes not only feel good but also scream: “Watch out! Someone’s moving!” I tried very hard not to buy these shoes. I tried on all the more sedate ones that sat side by side with my Vegas shoes but the others did not feel quite as good, were not as comfortable. So, I bit the bullet and walked to the checkout with my flashy shoes. I stifled my desire to apologize for buying them.

And then today, as I walked I realized I felt lighter, more relaxed and confident in my steps. These crazy looking, wild shoes made my feet happy! I began to think about walking and the ways we move in the world. There have been times when ‘walking’ under the radar was the right thing to do. Gray is the perfect color for doing this. You can slip into and out of situations in gray shoes. There have been times when my confidence was low and bringing attention to entrances and exits was not a place that felt safe. A pair of black shoes, basic, is one way to walk in safety. Have you ever had experiences like these?

But these colorful shoes which now adorn my feet and help me plant them firmly on the good earth seem to have a different purpose. They keep me looking down, aware of the path I am traveling, keep me present in the moment, instead of too far out in front of where I need to be. So here’s what I am wondering: Did I choose these shoes or did they choose me? Are these colors meant to teach me something about my walk in the world? I am sure some of you are rolling your eyes right now. Shoes have lessons to teach us? Maybe they do or maybe they don’t but my sense is that if we are open to it, almost everything thing, every person, every place, has a lesson to offer.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in the words of the prophet Jeremiah:

Thus says God:
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.

So what paths are calling to you this day, ancient or otherwise? What shoes will you need for the journey? May your steps today offer lessons that will inspire and heal your soul.