When’s the last time you were barefoot outside?

When we were in Washington at Hilary’s family cabin on the Puget Sound, there was little shoe-wearing. I had to train my boys not to complain about their feet hurting as we walked on beach rocks—some with barnacles.

Boys: “Dad, my feet hurt!”

Me: “It’s part of being at the beach!”

Boys: “Dad, I don’t like this part of the beach.”

Me: “You won’t mind it after your feet toughen up and you have ‘beach feet.’”

Beach feet: After you walk around barefoot long enough to toughen the bottoms of your feet so small rocks and rough sand don’t bother you.

Boys: “Dad, since you have beach feet, why don’t you carry us.”

Me: “Smart… but no.”

Why? Because there’s something beautiful about being barefoot. You slow down. You feel, and come in direct contact with the creation beneath you. Bare feet help to “ground” you this earth. And I think that matters.

There’s something about connectedness…

First: to God

Second: to people

Third: to creation

The first instructions God gave humans were to, 1) procreate, and then, 2)  care for the earth and all its creatures. The first part, most people have figured out. The second part, we have a long way to go.

Maybe walking outside barefoot is a good place to start.