“Where are your high heels?”
That was the first thing I heard from a young teen girl as I walked into church. Yep, she knew me. I LOVE heels! I could wear them 24/7. Seriously, I’m not joking.
But this day was different, I was worshiping and serving at our West Side campus and even I didn’t think heels were appropriate . . . and I think heels are great for anything! Our West Side campus is awesome. It’s an old school building and there is much work to do. . . clearing the yard, painting children’s ministry rooms, constructing clothes closets and a food pantry. So, this day I went in flip-flops and was ready to serve the church and God’s people.
I never thought about my high heels again, UNTIL I had left the West Side Campus that afternoon. As I headed home I passed by Bay Area Fellowship, our beautiful broadcast campus. As I drove by I felt God urging me to stop and attend the worship service there at 1pm. I was thinking, “Seriously God! I’m hot, sweaty, and plus I’ve been at church all morning.” And of course you guessed, He said go.
As I rounded the corner to turn in the parking lot, I began thinking “Well, this won’t be so bad. It’s right at 1pm so the service should have started. I can sneak in, sit in the back and no one will see me.” Just like going to the grocery store, when you hope you don’t see anybody . . . you see everyone you know!
I’m just giggling writing this. When God wants you to take a good hard look at yourself, He will orchestrate the circumstances. As I entered I realized the services were running late. Oh my word! HELP.
Within minutes there were hundreds of people all around me. That’s when I heard in the best teenage girl south Texas accent “Where are your high heels?” I felt the need to explain. Excuse the way I look. I’ve been serving at the West Side today. I’m hot. I’m sweaty. My heels are at home.
As I wanted to explain to everyone why I wasn’t wearing heels and why I must look at fright, God gently said “Ssssshhh . . . it doesn’t matter.”
I’ve always said God doesn’t care how you come to church . . . just come! And this day God was making sure I could walk my own talk. He made sure I saw the spoiled and vain girl still trying to live by others perceptions. He opened my eyes and WHOA!!!
Who would have ever thought learning to walk in different shoes could be so hard?
Great post, we still try and fit those old fashioned "church norms" even though we sometimes think we are past that. We all need to remember God just wants us as we are, simple as that. Thank you for sharing!
Christina
Oh Alene, I am so all over this. I attend the First Baptist Church here in my hometown and we so desperately want to reach out to people who would never darken the door of a FBC. So, as we look toward beginning a more casual service I've traded in my heels and hose for jeans and flats. I think it is so important for the emphasis to NOT be on what we wear. That is a hard one for a lot of folks, though.
Leah
Alene,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for leaving me such encouraging words! What a blessing your comment was to me today. Once again, thanks!
Sincerely,
Karen
Hi Alene
What a wonderful well written, and most inspiring post. I so related to this and enjoyed it so much.
Blessings,
Sue
A very enjoyable post…and very relatable too :)
Great post! Thanks for steering me here today. It's great to know there is another high heel lover out there and that God doesn't care what shoes we wear to worship him.