CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

SHOES IN CHURCH

4/24/2012

 
I got quite a bit of positive feedback from my previous post.  So I thought I would add one more short poem that speaks volumes to Christians.  It is titled "Shoes in Church".  I hope it speaks to you as much as it does to me.
 
SHOES IN CHURCH 

I showered and shaved,
I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat
In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer
As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me
Touching my own, and I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side
I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine,
But it didn't bother him much. 

A prayer began: 'Our Father',
I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on. 
The shoe man said a quiet '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 was ended,
And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud,
Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters,
His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear
The shoe man's voice, from the sky.

It was time for the offering,
And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached
Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out,
What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink'
As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me
To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man,
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service,
As is the custom here,
We must greet new visitors,
And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow,
And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer,
I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark,
And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming,
For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie.
I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes.
But he had a large, wide grin.

'Let me explain,' he said,
Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months
And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance
Is not like all the rest.
But I really do try
To always look my best.'

'I always clean and polish my shoes
Before my very long walk.
But by the time I get here,
They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain.
And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize,
For daring to sit so near.

He said, 'When I get here,
I know I must look a sight.
But I thought if I could touch you,
Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment,
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison.
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said,
'And taught me, in part,
That the best of any man
Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought,
This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All