As World Cup fanfare reaches a fever pitch, the beautifully orchestrated game offers fantastic images of fancy footwork… Feet flying, kicking, passing, blocking, handling, stealing, dribbling, shooting and saving. Feet are dexterous and dazzling on the world football (soccer) stage.
When feet move from executing a goal to celebrating in dance, there is a lift-off of spirit in play. Whether choreographed or spontaneous, feet deliver the message of “joy”.
Photo Source:
Pro basketball players score points under the net or from the line with passion. They score sneakers on the street just as avidly. Wearing head-turning sneakers is part of ‘who has game’. “Players want to be seen, and they don’t want to look alike,” said Jay Gaspar, the Phoenix Suns’ equipment manager. “Shoes become their identity.”
The N.B.A restricts players’ professional apparel to matching uniforms; they even supply the socks. But sneakers are different – the players are free to express themselves. And they do, with mucho gusto and mucho dinero. (Pleasure and pay checks.)
Go to the link below to see which player has:
http://fdra.org/latest-news/a-huge-n-b-a-rivalry-sneaker-collections-pics/
See also:
http://ikeepsit100.com/category/sneaker-addict/
In the year 1800, 15-year-old Mary Jones walked 26 miles in her bare feet to buy a Bible. Owning a Bible in Wales at that time was rare; they were expensive and scarce. Mary saved her pennies for six years. Her journey began in the village of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant taking her over streams, through valleys and around mountains to Bala.
Upon arriving at the home of the Bible-seller, Thomas Charles, Mary’s hopes were dashed. His supply of Bibles were all sold or spoken for. Her despair moved Mr. Charles to sell her one, even though he had promised it to someone else.
Mary’s journey began with her longing for a Bible. She ‘put feet’ to her resolve by saving and by walking. Being poor and barefoot were not hindrances. Indeed, her effort and her disappointment affected Thomas Charles beyond making sure she went home with a Bible. He wanted there to be Bibles for all Welsh people. This led to the 1804 founding of the British and Foreign Bible Society in London.
The barefoot journey of Mary Jones had resounding impact.
Adapted from: http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/about-bible-society/our-work/mary-jones/
(Excerpt from: “Walking barefoot: Jewish lessons in leadership” by Rabbi Joel Seltzer / Jewish World blogger | Jan. 6, 2013.)
“This whole barefoot theory is nothing new. No, quite to the contrary. In this past week’s Torah portion we read of the first time someone was advised to remove their shoes in order to be in touch with the ground more completely; the person who took off their shoes was Moses, and the advice-giver was God.
In this past week’s parasha, Parashat Shemot, Moses encounters the Presence of God for the first, but certainly not the last, time. While he is tending to his father-in-law’s flock, he stumbles upon Mt. Horev, and there Moses sees the miraculous vision of the burning bush. It is during this moment of theophany when God asks what may seem like an unusual request:
God says: “Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)
The commentators are puzzled by this request. Why does God ask Moses to remove his shoes? Is it because there was a line in the sand? Is it because our shoes are naturally dirty and therefore unfit to be in the presence of God?
One possible answer comes from the Hasidic Rebbe, the “Ollalot Ephraim.” He writes:
‘The world beneath our feet is always filled with small stones and debris. When we wear shoes, we easily walk upon all sorts of small things which stand in our way; in fact we barely notice them. But, when we walk barefoot, we feel every single stone and pebble, every kotz vedardar, every thorn and every thistle, every last rock hurts us. And this then is the hinted meaning of the text: To Moses, the preeminent leader of the people Israel, God said: “Shal na’alekha” “take off your shoes,” meaning, the leader of each and every generation needs to be aware of every barrier, every experience of suffering that is placed upon the way. A leader must feel the pain of the people, and must be sensitive to their every suffering.’
This is the meaning of true leadership; understanding the power that comes when we walk barefoot through our lives. When, instead of ignoring the pain and suffering of others that abounds, we make ourselves vulnerable to it. When, instead of choosing a life of padding and cushion, we understand that we were meant to feel every rock and every pebble, every thorn and every thistle of the ground beneath our feet.”
For the full article, refer to:
Photo Source: http://africaisnear.blogspot.com/2009/04/take-off-your-shoes.html
First, let this description help you imagine that God dances:
“The theologians in the early church tried to describe this wonderful reality that we call Trinity. If any of you have ever been to a Greek wedding, you may have seen their distinctive way of dancing . . . It’s called perichoresis.
There are not two dancers, but at least three. They start to go in circles, weaving in and out in this very beautiful pattern of motion. They start to go faster and faster and faster, all the while staying in perfect rhythm and in sync with each other.
Eventually, they are dancing so quickly (yet so effortlessly) that as you look at them, it just becomes a blur. Their individual identities are part of a larger dance.
The early church fathers and mothers looked at that dance (perichoresis) and said, “That’s what the Trinity is like.” It’s a harmonious set of relationship in which there is mutual giving and receiving. This relationship is called love, and it’s what the Trinity is all about.
The perichoresis is the dance of love.” (by Jonathan Marlowe)
http://musicanddancing.wordpress.com/perichoresis/
Then, consider that God wants you to join in the dance:
“From all eternity, God is not alone and solitary, but lives as Father, Son and Spirit in a rich and glorious and abounding fellowship of utter oneness. There is no emptiness in this circle, no depression or fear or insecurity.
The Trinitarian life is a great dance of unchained communion and intimacy, fired by passionate, self-giving and other-centered love, and mutual delight. This life is good. It is right, unique, full of music and joy, blessedness and peace.
Such love, giving rise to such togetherness and fellowship and oneness, is the womb of the universe and of humanity within it. The stunning truth is that this Triune God, in amazing and lavish love, determined to open the circle and share the Trinitarian life with others.” (by C. Baxter Kruger)
http://baxterkruger.blogspot.ca/2012/09/summary-of-trinitarian-vision.html
Feet starting to tap?
There is more, much more to understand and to ask for.
And, God’s dance card has your name on it….
Check out:
C. Baxter Kruger, author –
“The Parable of the Dancing God”
“The Great Dance”
Get ready for heavenly choreography!
followingfeet 