Walk a mile in my shoes.– sung & written by Joe South. 1970
If I could be you and you could be me for just one hour. If we could find a way to get inside each other’s mind. If
you could see me through your eyes instead of your ego. I believe you’d be surprised to see that you’d been blind.
Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes, and before you abuse,
criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.
During Lent it can be difficult enough to walk in our own shoes during introspection and self-examination. We are more tempted to walk in the shoes of the friend who gave up Liverwurst for Lent than our own fast. However, if I may suggest you might consider “walking” with a little different twist during a meditation or two. Instead of walking in the shoes of a homeless person, someone with a debilitating disease or handicap, or your worst enemy. Walk a little closer to home. Try on your best friend’s pair who for some reason complains about a life you would give your eye teeth to have. Jog a little while in your relative’s reluctance to get a job even though he is always borrowing money. Slip on the attractive friend’s sandals who refuses to clean up or socialize. We all have someone in our lives we would like to “fix.”
Walking in their shoes for a mile may help you understand that friend who has everything is missing something you can provide. You may see that relative job finding reluctance is about self worth and your criticism feeds what he needs to overcome. That attractive friend may have had something happen to her that makes her feel the opposite of the way you see her. These are only examples. It is also good practice for walking in more uncomfortable shoes — the ones already on your feet.
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