Tying shoes

Remember when you learned how to tie your shoes? After years of sitting there waiting for someone bigger to get on their knees and wrap one string over the other and do it for you, the time came for you to learn how to use your own hands and complete the task alone.

I witnessed Samuel's learning in action this past weekend. We set aside some time on both Saturday and Sunday to go through all the steps involved in tying his laces all by himself. After a final run-through he asked me to close my eyes while he completed the feat on his own. I opened my eyes to a loose-fitting, but neatly tied knot on his shoe. He practiced a few more times and allowed me to give him tips and pointers. Finally, I said, "the final test is to do it with the shoe on your foot." He put it on and successfully tied it. From here on, I told him, I did not want him asking me to tie his shoe, since he is big enough to do it himself.

I know he was happy and proud to do it as evidenced by the look of joy on his face as we praised his efforts. His sense of pride was evident as Lina shared with me how his teachers at school had mentioned he had done it without any help.

Tying one's shoes is a brief lesson, but still a process and there is a definable before and after. Before we start walking on the path of ministry in Mexico, we too must follow a step by step process. We are now in the middle of it all: sharing our vision, meeting with people, raising two precious children, sending emails, making phone calls, praying, studying about Tenancingo, spending time together as a family, calling people already working down there for a status update, travelling to churches and visiting friends and family, setting up booths to display our vision and plans, updating blogs, completing assignments and reading, working full time, continuing our involvement in church activities. I guess that describes a busyness that is all too common these days, but at some point in the near future, our "shoe" will be tied and we will "walk" from the Chicago suburbs down to rural Mexico. We will be involved in the lives of people and bring the life-changing hope that only Christ can bring to their lives.

Tying a shoe, restoring a soul. Vast differences in depth and eternal significance, yet each a process in its own way. Next time you tie your shoe, pray for the Reeds.