May 19, 2008

When Isaiah wrote about the beautiful feet of those who bring good news (52:7), he must not have been having a vision of mine—I’m on a constant look-out for creams and whatnot to help mend the dryness and cracks. Even though feet have to put up with a lot of abuse, there’s much we can learn by taking a closer look.

Buddhists consider the foot the most dishonorable part of the body and follow rules you’ll need to remember should you visit Thailand (or Richard Gere)—remove shoes before entering buildings and avoid pointing feet toward people, objects, or statues of Buddha. I’m not a Buddhist—I’m not sure even Buddha would be a Buddhist were he alive today, because if the guy was sincerely in search of enlightenment he wouldn’t appreciate being worshipped—but anything that cuts down on sweeping can’t be all bad.

In India, children touch parents’ feet to show love and respect and to request a blessing. Persian weddings of the past included foot-washing for the couple—somewhere, presumably, between throwing the garter and doing the Chicken Dance. Ancient Chinese women had their feet bound, practically crippling them, rendering them incapable of any kind of dance at all…this from one of the most advanced cultures in history.

Interestingly (and news to me when I began my research) is the fact that “feet” was sometimes used by Hebrew Bible writers as a euphemism for parts of the body not normally discussed in polite company (yes, those). When someone pointed this out to me, I did a quick Google to confirm--Bible scholars point to several Old Testament references that may not have anything at all to do with a pair of size tens.

During the time of Christ, the majority of people walked everywhere on dusty roads; feet, therefore, became dirty. Servants customarily washed the feet of employers and guests upon arrival, a custom mentioned several places in the Bible, most notably at the Last Supper, when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet prior to his crucifixion (John 13).

Traditionally, his action stands as an example of godly leadership…not lording over those under one’s authority, but serving them so that the entire group—whether church, family, organization, or business—is built up for the corporate good.

During Medieval times, it was customary for nobles to wash the feet of twelve of the kingdom’s poorest men during Easter week; Queen Elizabeth still practices this, in fact (which makes one wonder how the wash-ees are chosen. Is there a sign-up sheet?). Some churches also reenact Christ’s foot-washing as a regular, or special, part of worship.

Over the years, I’ve received different responses to the idea of foot washing as an act of Christian service. On our honeymoon, I washed my new husband’s feet, symbolizing my willingness to serve him in love—a concept that won his immediate approval. Years later, not all my fellow teachers at a small denominational school were enthused when I shared a devotional on the subject and began washing their feet. One person would only let me wash one(!); another refused on the basis of the famous “That’s Not The Way We Do Things” protocol.

Another time I felt compelled to wash the feet of a Scottish evangelist visiting a home group we attended. He later told me he’d had to pray during the entire time I knelt there, pouring water over his feet as a blessing—apparently his feet are extremely ticklish. He was concerned he’d burst out laughing and spoil the moment.

A phrase we hear periodically in the media which captures man’s tendency to fail—“feet of clay”— comes straight from Scripture (Daniel 2). The “footwear” encouraged in the Word is the preparation of the gospel (Ephesians 6:15). When a prostitute washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, she shocked self-righteous onlookers but pleased the Lord (Luke 7). God’s Word is a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105) but if we ignore it, we may well join those whose feet run to evil (Isaiah 59:7).

Containing twenty-six bones, feet walk about 65,000 miles in a lifetime. They perform a Herculean task, supporting our body weight day in and day out (more of a task for some of our feet than for others’!) but they’re also easily taken for granted—until we stub a toe or get a blister. Be kind to your feet this week, and pray about someone whose feet you may need to wash. Don’t be too quick to add on a “figurative” clause—the physical acts of finding a bowl, running water until it’s warm, draping a soft towel over one’s arm, kneeling at a brother or sister’s feet and looking up at them from a new perspective of submissiveness…there is power in really doing it.

Ellen Gillette is a Christian writer in Harnett County, North Carolina who puts “a foot massage” pretty near the top of her favorite things. Author of Baaad Sheep- When God’s People Let You Down (CarePoint, 2007) she may be reached by e-mail: ellenofgillette1@aol.com. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of other individuals or corporate bodies associated with Crossroads Church or the American Podiatric Medical Association.