(or How did I miss that? )
Tammy, a friend of mine on the worship team at church noticed that I wear moccasins (the slip-on shoes, not the snakes) a lot, and told me about a clearance sale that a store was having on Lands’ End shoes. She had gotten a pair or two herself and encouraged me to go check it out.
I went to the nearest location of the store the next day and did the Goldilocks thing (this shoe is too big, this shoe is too small). Having determined what size I needed, I saw that the store had none in my size (except for a really nasty stomach-acid green color). About a week later, I was at another location of the store, and they had my size, in my first color choice, no less. And they are, indeed, comfy.
The next Sunday I went to rehearsal before the service. I was wearing my new shoes and noticed that Tammy had hers on, too. I walked up to her, put my foot right next to hers, and remarked that she had good taste in shoes. Where and when I got them and how much I paid were all brief discussion topics. 
It was then time to get down to business, and our worship leader opened in prayer. He thanked God for shoes, and for when we can get them cheaply. He then segued into thanking God for the gifts of salvation, grace, and mercy.
The shoes and the sale were no less a gift from God than salvation, grace, and mercy. Granted, they are less valuable, but they are no less from Him. James James 1:17" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1:17" target="_blank">tells us (emphasis mine):
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
God gives us tangible signs all the time, reminding us of His goodness. Sometimes, they’re right in front of your nose toes.
7 Comments(+Add)
These are a gift from God?
I wouldn’t be caught “re-born” in these shoes.
However,I am not surprised that any of the contributors here would where them.
I forgot that to some, all doesn’t mean all and every doesn’t mean every…
Excellent observations, Brendt – it is far too easy to forget the little things…
I’d note, though, that I’ve been able to use the same footwear playing keyboards for the past 25 years, for much less than $20…
barefoot is the only way to go
My shoes from WM were only $5.
Every good gift!
When playing a full console organ, I always have used socks. I just hated marking up the wood of the pedals. I’ve played some pipe organs that had some age on them and there were little troughs in the pedals worn in from age and the use of shoes on ‘em.
So I guessed most my time in church has been spent mostly “almost” barefoot.
Playing a B-3 barefoot would be a bit embarassing I would think Chris, as there’s nothing to hide your feet behind in those baby’s.
Yeah, since we play on a raised stage, some folks have described me as “that barefoot keyboard player” (not in a derogatory way, though)
I got started on the barefoot thing in HS, after Rich Mullins sat down at the piano to teach me some riffs and things I ought to be practicing. He was always slipping his shoes off before he played, and he said it helped you get a much better feel of the pedals and subtle changes that could be held, as a result.
Since his word was gold to that starry-eyed kid, I think I’ve played shoeless almost exclusively since then. I agree with his reasons, and I’ve also found that it’s saved me from “rogue sliding pedals” from electronic keyboards many a time. As far as I’m concerned, barefoot (or stocking-foot) is the only way to play… And with a B3, standing up, stockings don’t give you sure footing, so barefoot is the only way with the Hammond…
My pastor likes to say, “I looked up the Greek word for ‘all’. You know what it means? All.”