No shirt, no shoes…no problem?

The gravel stung the bottom of my soles as I walked with Molly to Cha Chi’s, a local coffee shop, to work on my papers. Although it was only a 5 minute walk, my feet reminded me of their dissatisfaction with every step until we reached the entrance. And then it hit me. “Oh snap! I’m about to go into a restaurant and I’m not wearing shoes. I don’t want to have to turn around. Man…” Much to my surprise, the waitress looked at me and smiled as she showed me and Molly to our table. “Wow. I wonder if she saw my feet…” I shrugged it off and went about my work. Then, when I walked out to the bathroom I passed another waitress who also greeted me with a smile before and after looking directly at my feet. That’s when it hit me. Of course they wouldn’t not serve someone if they didn’t have shoes because they possibly can’t afford them. That and it’s just socially acceptable to walk around without shoes. In America one assumes that if you don’t have shoes you shouldn’t be eating out at a restaurant in the first place but here they don’t discriminate. Before I delve any deeper into thought I should explain why I wasn’t wearing shoes in the first place for all of those that are thinking, “But…but…no shoes? What???”

Two weeks ago the 5^th of April was One Day without Shoes, an international awareness effort by TOMS shoes to promote awareness about children without shoes. In many developing countries children don’t have shoes and have to walk far distances to school, medical centers and even to fetch water. Children that walk on volcanic soil can contract a nasty foot disease, Podoconiosis, that’s 100% preventable with shoes. If you want more info click on the link above :)

So, that day I went without shoes. I did it on campus last year at Marquette and it was a very freeing yet grounding experience. Freeing in the sense that it allowed me to experience what some kids have to endure every day and at the same time it made me extremely grateful for my many blessings, including shoes. This year I found walking around Africa without shoes quite humbling. I experienced a day without shoes in order to help me understand a life without shoes…and with each new step onto the graveled road, I hope I can.


Your word is a light to my feet and light to my path.
Pslam 105:119


Callously yours,
Janelle