I don’t get these.
Are you supposed to walk around going “vroom, vroom, I’m a car! I have tires where my feet should be!”
Poor new pastor Megan just wrote in complaining of feet that hurt even though she’s just wearing an inch heel, and a chunky heel at that. I recommended that she find a shoe with a padded foot bed and good support, and in trying to find a helpful recommendation went to Zappos.com Clark’s Indigo collection. After all, I just caved in and bought a pair of their black pumps because I am too OLD and FAT to totter around on anything but the most sturdy heel with lots of support, and I thought I’d find something cute for Megan from the same line. Then I found the Goodyear Mary Janes up there and now my brow is furrowed with irritation and I’m going to need Botox.
What a day, huh? Can you believe it’s October already? I always get a kind of wicked manic zip this time of year because autumn makes me spiritually hyper. Happens every year. I think I’ll dress all in soft, warm layers tomorrow and smooth lavender oil on my temples and try to move at half-speed. Honest to God, do you ever close your eyes in prayer at the end of the day and start feeling vibrations from dozens of members of your congregation coming through your body? And even hear whispery echoes of their voices? Sometimes I feel like a police scanner, like “Oh, we got a broken heart over on Webster Street, and we got stressed out family on Pinson Lane, and sixteen Boomer kids sick with worry about their elderly parents, and someone’s having trouble with drugs tonight, Lord, and oh, I think someone took a turn for the worse over in the next town.”
Kumbaya, my Lord. Come by here. I used to think that was the corniest song ever until I heard it used in a worship service for parents grieving their deceased children. I don’t smirk at “Kumbaya” anymore, friends, I surely don’t. Never will again.
I think October is just a witchy month, and those of us with psychic sensitivities (or, if you prefer, “the gift of prophecy”) can jam our frequencies this time of year. Be careful out there, sensitivos. Consider dressing all in white for purity and non-absorption of others’ energies (so what if it’s after Labor Day? Just stay warm — this is about self-care right now, not fashion), and consider soaking in a warm bath to get some Mama Water to balance all the air and fire coursing through you. Eat well — eat earthy, not processed food. Get a knife and sacrifice a pumpkin. Wrap a brown scarf around your head while writing to stay grounded. I tend to get nasty tension headaches in October. Got one now, in fact, and I need to cut out the coffee entirely because it packs far more of a wallop than usual.
Yea, I was a Wiccan before I became a Christian. Some of you can stomp away in disgust now and leave me to the debbil, but that’s all the magickal advice you’re getting anyway, because I’m going to make me some pumpkin muffins, take a bath, and go to bed EARLY.
I’m off to scrub my face,breath and eat an apple (organic & local!)… good advice thanks. I’m just a student and don’t even have a congregation yet, but my fillings have been jammed with signals this week.
We should have a formerly Wiccan, now clergy coffee time some day.
And I have what seems to be the non-tire tread version of those shoes – and just about went flying on my own kitchen floor wearing them.
I have to say I sorta think these shoes are cute, although I know my dear husband will ask when I’m moving to the hollow tree if I show up in them 🙂
What brand are they, by the way?
o.k, gotta say…I have these shoes in brown, but the button loafer style not the mary jane style. my beloved thought I was nuts upon first seeing them, but actually thought they were cute when I wore them. I LOVE them. A little quirky, but comfortable, and something just attracts me to them.
p.s. totally with you on the witchy october stuff…had a totally wrapped in the spirit experience preaching on Sunday…and every encounter is soaking through my pores. I am finding I need to really be meditative and aware these fallish days.
thanks for the post….
Since you brought up food, has everyone read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and her family? Amazing, yet not preachy reasons why we should eat locally. I know, this should be over on PB, but organic food came up… I just moved to Amish country in western NY and think it just might be possible to eat more intentionally, even on my meager salary.
Blessings and groundings!
Oh, I have just stumbled on to this site. Sister PeaceBang, you are a kindred spirit. For my 14 years in ministry prior to this, I’ve done the solo pastor gig, robes every Sunday except those days that were hotter than Hades. But now I’m on staff of a large church with a more laid-back style, so we only robe about 9 Sundays a year. My male colleague says I’ve been good for raising his consciousness, as we discuss some of the things people say to me as they go through the “receiving line” after worship.
I’ve just lost 40 pounds, so I look a bit different. But when I raised our gifts at the altar, I always thought it was a prayerful time of dedication. Instead, I discover it is the opportunity people use to check out my rear view. Realize that, and then try not to be self-conscious!
Pastor M. laughed when, on our first hot Sunday this year, I made him promise he would tell me if he heard any complaints about my open-toed shoes and colorful pedicure. Can I get an amen? Well, today I discovered a good reason for avoiding that style of footwear. A young boy kneeling at the communion rail fumbled his little cup, and the grapejuice went flying. The majority of it appeared to land on my left foot, and of course trickled onto my toes and inside my shoe. I didn’t want to make the little guy feel bad, so I downplayed the spill and carried on. But I served the rest of the communion service with the blood o’ Jesus squishing around in my shoe. I tell you, girlfriends, it was very difficult keeping a straight face till the benediction.
I must admit that I have those black maryj anes. Actually they are very very comfortable and super cute on the foot! They look fabulous with long trousers – especially denim ones. I also have the “doll” shoe (also indigo by clarks) in the current color and I have had a TON of compliments on them. Not to mention these shoes are like walking on pillows. And I have never once slipped on our ice skating rink of a platform, tumbling onto my elders with communion (as I almost have done in the past). To me, that’s a great combination….