diamonds on the soles of her shoes.

The other day, someone said:

"shoes speak a lot about people - like really..."

My response was something along the lines of:

"really! I'd hate to know what people think about me...
I don't even like to wear shoes."

Those who know me, know well enough that I don't exactly spend a lot of money on clothes or shoes - but it's not like there is anything wrong with that or that I wouldn't be interested in doing so if I thought about it long enough.
I just happen to be in a season (of sorts) that leaves me perfectly content wearing run-down chuck taylors, plain v-neck t shirts and an assortment of wool socks that I stole from my mom's drawer over christmas. In saying this, I have a feeling I might be single for a lot longer than anticipated.

I think that if shoes were the only thing that spoke of who we are, I'd be in a lot of trouble. And even though my sarcasm could have been put to better use or just not used at all at the time, it's safe to say it has shed new light on a passage that has always seemed to challenge me:

"Do not store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." matt 6:19-21

I often think about what I'll have to show for my time in Korea when all is said and done. I am still wearing the clothes that I came here with, have furnished most of my apartment with things I've found in the dump and wear the same pair of shoes almost everywhere I go, for no reason at all. For the most part, I've acquired nothing other than a scooter, other people's shit and a roommate. All of this to say, I think often about what then my treasure might be:

am I storing anything up at all? for this life or the next?

It's ironic that "diamonds on the souls of her shoes" by Paul Simon is one of my all time favorite songs. It seems that I am in this dilemma often, putting too many diamonds on the wrong soles and not enough on the right ones - mine and others alike.
Whatever the soul, am I more concerned about what things look like on the outside or about getting it right on the inside? In other words, am I interested in investing in the world or into the Kingdom? Plain and simple.

What I am learning in Korea is how to get things right. How to preserve life for the purpose of eternity and how to help others do the same. How to let my life be a treasure for others to store up too and to not be so afraid of walking barefoot so much.


It's refreshing to watch the seasons change - to watch the spring come to life and feel the life of others welling up inside of me. It is in these places of change that I find myself more aware of my heavenly treasure - treasure being stored up for me through the lives and loves of those who walk with me so closely. Its almost as if we are all a bunch of old ladies, canning pickles and jam and tomatoes with and for each other. Putting on each other's heavenly shelves, a supply of good(ness) that will never perish, only age in taste and color long into eternity.



Chow chi from the high ridge
whit