These Old Shoes

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These old shoes have taken me places. Mostly ‘round the same old streets.
These old shoes hug my feet. Especially needed when miles pile upon miles.
These old shoes have run ‘round the world. Touched earth, rivers and places in time. 

These old shoes have holes and tears. Taking all the stress I beat out in them.
These old shoes provide stability. Especially when my soul needs mobility.
These old shoes represent special memories, people, journeys and faith.

These old shoes need to be replaced.
But how do you say goodbye to an instrument that helped you BQ?

These old shoes are worn down and drug out.
These old shoes have seen snow, rain and ice. Dawn, dusk, and night.
These old shoes never talk back. They just move where my feet tell them to go.

These old shoes have carried the weight of my heart, soul and mind.
These old shoes a symbol of hope, hard work, and precious gifts.

These old shoes help me run toward my creator: 
Blood made to pump. Mind made to dream.
Soul made to connect to the gifts He gave me.

These old shoes I must retire.
These old shoes need me to become a seeker of new.
But I don’t want to change.
I don’t want new.
I want these old shoes because I know they are true.

These old shoes have revealed something new:
I don’t like to change.
I sometimes don’t want to be made new.

These old shows have taught me a lesson:
I can’t keep holding on to that which isn’t of good use anymore.
I need to look forward to what else is in store. 

These old shoes are pointing me to consider what in my life is tattered and torn:
​What in my life needs to be set aside to keep moving forward?
These old shoes are broken-down, unable to serve their purpose:
What am I holding on to that’s leading to damage later?

These old shoes are a trivial matter.
Yet, sometimes such things can point me to examine:
The objects of my affection,
The splinters in my soul,
The things I turn to for connection.

These old shoes are just rubber and nylon,
Man-made materials that hold my feet together.
Still, these old shoes have helped my body, mind and soul remain tethered.

I am going to miss these old shoes. Yet,
I am going to choose,
To be thankful for the allowance of time on the road.

I am certain, in time,
I'll forget the miles bound in these old shoes.
Forget, I will not, the one who made me to love to run,
So that I could see in Him the blessings of an
​Old blue pair of shoes.

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This is one post in the series, Run for your Life. These posts are written to encourage those of you who already run, and inspire those of you who are thinking about picking it up. But even if running is nowhere in your past, present or future, I pray something about the message or the reflection questions will relate to your life. I would love it if we could use this space as a place to have a conversation about the questions posted at the bottom. So, please lend me your thoughts in the comment section below. It will spur me on, I just know it. ​