The Gospel According to Jimmy Choo

On this morning’s TODAY show on NBC, hidden somewhere between the exciting news of wind chill in Chicago and the traffic update, was a small feature entitled “Why We Are Obsessed with Shoes.”  A group of four experts came to the conclusion, and I quote:  “Shoes have the ability to transform your life.”  Whoa, I almost fell off the treadmill. 

As a shoe-challenged kind of woman who 99.8 percent of the time wears either running shoes, Chaco sandals or Birkenstock clogs (yes, in that order),  it is probably illegal for me to even type the words “Jimmy Choo” in a blog.   The panel of experts included Stacy London who weekly scours the United States for women like me who don’t have a fashion clue, a fashion editor for Glamour magazine who said that a poor economy actually stimulates the sale of shoes, and another woman who had on a pair of boots that probably cost more than my car is worth.

How many pairs of shoes are enough?  One more pair, I am sure these women would conclude.  It is an elusive pursuit.  There is something in us that wants something more, something dramatically different, something new.  We KNOW there is more to this life.  That is why advertising is so successful:  it promises you the world for the price of a  new pair of shoes.  It will make things right.   It will save your life.  While a pair of shoes can have many positive qualities, salvation is not one of them.  Why do we seek these things with such displaced desperation?  Because there is a longing in our hearts…a longing that only God can satisfy, no matter how many shoes you can stuff in your closet.  That longing is there, because God put it there, to lead us to a relationship with Him.   

The right pair of shoes, yea, they can make an outfit work.  But transforming your life?  Sorry, Stacy, it has nothing at all to do with what you strap on your feet…and everything to do with what God’s love can do in your heart. 

…and you shall be called by a new name,

which the mouth of the LORD will give.

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,

but you shall be called My delight is in her…

and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

            so shall your God rejoice over you.

                                          Isaiah 62. 2-5