Empty Shoes
Carol Condon
carolcondon5@aol.com
The relief of finally reaching my senior year of collage was
an amazing feeling. There were a few moments when I wondered if graduation day would
ever come. As the year was winding down our Bible School president called a
meeting with all the soon to be graduates. Together we had worked, prayed,
laughed, cried, studied and now we were going to graduate together.
At first everything was so warm and fuzzy, but then he asked
us all to think back to just before leaving home. What were you doing in your
local church? What ministries were you involved in? We corporately began
thinking and making mental notes of the answers to each question. He then brought
us face to face with reality. “All of those positions have been filled in your
absence. Don’t go home thinking that you will reclaim positions that others now
fill.” In simple terms, you left some empty shoes and others now occupy. I
don’t think any of us were expecting that raw piece of truth.
But, it was just that, truth. Painful, raw truth. Graduation
day was everything I had dreamed of. I held the portfolio with a certificate
tucked neatly inside representing three years of work, and a life goal
completed. Little did I realize that the real education was yet in front of me. Everything I was told that day was true. I retuned home and found
the worship leader, Sunday School teacher, and Bus Ministry positions all filled.
That day in my early 20’s I received a lesson that has proven true time and
time again.
Throughout the years I have continued my education with one
of the best forms available: experience. I have been blessed to be in some
amazing ministry posts and in some very special friendships. Back to the
painful truth, empty shoes will be filled. It would be an extremely lonely position to find oneself in,
if truly alone. Through it all, I was never forsaken and I encourage you to
listen and obey His call and not be afraid of the shoes you may leave or the
shoes you may fill.
"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Psalms 37:25
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