Most people at the school where I teach could tell you I wear cowboy boots almost every day. They are the most comfortable footwear I can find. I have an uncommon foot size, so it’s hard to find shoes that fit well. I really like my boots, and try to keep them looking nice, so
I polish them after every three or four days of wear.
One morning it was time to polish my brown ones (I’ve got several pair). They always show marks and a little scuffing, especially the back of the heel from driving the car. I gave them a quick going over with polish and buffed them up. But when I looked them over, I discovered that the inside of one of the toes had not shined up the way the rest of the boot had. As I looked still closer, I realized the whole side of the toe had been hit from above by some sort of heavy weight, badly wrinkling the leather. The surface hadn’t been broken, but it was clearly marred. With a mixture of hope and anxiety, I decided to carefully rub in a lot of polish. Perhaps the oils in the polish would allow the leather to relax and return to its original position and shape. Thankfully, after about five minutes of work, the surface was back to looking almost like new.
There are four brick-lined steps leading from our kitchen area down into the garage. When leaving for school that day, I didn’t bother turning the garage light on. I know how many steps there are, and I can see the outline of objects if the outside light is on. Wouldn’t you know it, but, as I carefully went down the steps, I clipped the corner of the heel of the same boot on the brick and scuffed it up again. So that night, I had to work on the boot again.
My life is a lot like my boots. I keep scuffing it up, and the Great Bootmaker has to come in and work on me. It seems that as soon as He gets me all cleaned up, I turn around and something else happens. I really look forward to that day when He can put me on display in a place where scuffing will no longer take place. I long so much to be a trophy of His restorative power, and an example to the angels and the rest of the universe. I know He has promised to, someday, make me like new, something I can never do for my cowboy boots. I just need to remember to continue turning myself over to Him for His loving attention. Then everything will be all right.
Dr. G
I polish them after every three or four days of wear.One morning it was time to polish my brown ones (I’ve got several pair). They always show marks and a little scuffing, especially the back of the heel from driving the car. I gave them a quick going over with polish and buffed them up. But when I looked them over, I discovered that the inside of one of the toes had not shined up the way the rest of the boot had. As I looked still closer, I realized the whole side of the toe had been hit from above by some sort of heavy weight, badly wrinkling the leather. The surface hadn’t been broken, but it was clearly marred. With a mixture of hope and anxiety, I decided to carefully rub in a lot of polish. Perhaps the oils in the polish would allow the leather to relax and return to its original position and shape. Thankfully, after about five minutes of work, the surface was back to looking almost like new.
There are four brick-lined steps leading from our kitchen area down into the garage. When leaving for school that day, I didn’t bother turning the garage light on. I know how many steps there are, and I can see the outline of objects if the outside light is on. Wouldn’t you know it, but, as I carefully went down the steps, I clipped the corner of the heel of the same boot on the brick and scuffed it up again. So that night, I had to work on the boot again.
My life is a lot like my boots. I keep scuffing it up, and the Great Bootmaker has to come in and work on me. It seems that as soon as He gets me all cleaned up, I turn around and something else happens. I really look forward to that day when He can put me on display in a place where scuffing will no longer take place. I long so much to be a trophy of His restorative power, and an example to the angels and the rest of the universe. I know He has promised to, someday, make me like new, something I can never do for my cowboy boots. I just need to remember to continue turning myself over to Him for His loving attention. Then everything will be all right.
Dr. G
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