Barefooted Faith

I wrote this poem earlier this summer, around the same time that I wrote Hope’s Harbor. It was written for a contemplative prayer retreat I went on with a group of the most amazing women from my church. What a blessing it was to get away and recharge with these women! We spent time in contemplative prayer together each day reflecting and sharing our stories.

The inspiration for this poem-prayer came from a conversation that I had with my spiritual director. I realized that in my daily prayer practices I take my shoes off to pray. It’s challenging for me to walk barefoot because of my balance due to my cerebral palsy, however when I meditate in the morning and practice yoga in the afternoon or evening I remove my shoes. My spiritual director wisely noted the scene in Exodus 3:1-5 where Moses bears witness to the burning bush and God invites him to take off his sandals recognizing he is on holy ground. Thus, the image of a “barefooted faith” was planted. In this poem I explore what living with a barefooted faith might be like.

Barefooted Faith

Unstrap your sandals of sensibility and scarcity,

and step forward gently toward a barefooted faith.

Feel the cool breeze of peace

Warm sunlight of joy

Cleansing, patient rains

And the kind coming of spring

tend the roots of your soul.

Each step an invitation to become and to bloom as you are.

Each footprint an echo of your unique seeds of love

for those who are and those yet to come.

May sacred granules of goodness

nurture your wildflower heart

So that you may come to know

the holy ground you inhabit.

Acrostic Advent

Hope’s Harbor