Watch Your Step

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Colossians 3:15

I was wearing exceptionally cute shoes. Somehow it's important to note that. Cute shoes are so integral to that classy look. The problem with cute shoes is that they're so seldom practical. I don't remember anyone ever saying to me, "Take a look at my adorable orthopedic shoes!" Nope, cute usually means painful feet. Sometimes it even means danger.

The Sunday night I was sporting the exceptionally cute shoes is a good case in point. I was walking down the runway... er... hallway at church and one of the attractive high heels made an unexpected 45-degree turn to the west. The rest of me took on a new course, heading due east. Maybe if it had been a few degrees less I could have pulled out at the last minute. Sadly, I knew instinctively that 45 degrees is past the point of no return and I was going down. May day!

Go ahead. Try to look graceful, charming and hang on to that look of class when you're taking a nose dive in the middle of the church hallway- in a dress. I tried to bounce up with an "I meant to do that," but no one was buying it.

Fortunately we were between rush hours in the church hall. I only humiliated myself in front of a handful of people. I have to give them credit, they were trying to look sincerely concerned right before they exploded into uncontrolled laughter. I thought I was going to have to give one of them a little CPR. I hate it when I make my friends swallow their gum.

By the way, it doesn't matter how cute the shoes are, they just don't give you that runway look when they end up flying through the air. It's amazing how things can take a bad turn so quickly and unexpectedly.

That's true in every area of life and it's the reason we have to be especially careful. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, "So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants." (The Message)

Watching one's step doesn't necessarily mean always wearing sensible shoes. But it does mean we need to guard our thinking and guard our actions. Spending too much time on a "look" is not making the most of every opportunity to live for Christ. Living carelessly and unthinkingly is so much more dangerous than the cutest pair of shoes. We need to forget the runway and "understand what the Master wants."

We find what He wants spelled out plainly for us in his Word. There's direction in the Word of God that will never send us spiraling out of control. No unexpected west turns there! It's the secure lifethe clean life. Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word." (The Message)

If you've been spiraling out of control or quietly heading down the wrong kind of runway, it's time to dust yourself off and change direction. Head God-ward. Follow His map for living. There's joy there. Even in orthopedic shoes.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken, and Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Who Put the Cat in the Fridge--Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site.