A Pair of Sandals

Requests to God.

Request

Father: Use me as a pair of sandals. May I be ready at a moment's notice to be worn upon Your holy feet, to walk the paths that You shall choose— quiet country lanes or noisy city street— to take Your hands Your voice Your smile where friend or stranger You would greet. May I be willing to be set aside or placed in some dark lonely corner to be unnoticed and to wait patiently quietly without rancor willing to be unused or used till frazzled, but useless never!

Each day through our happy years at Pacific Union College we touched the lives of many precious students. Our constant prayer was that these contacts would bring honor and glory to God. One day as I was ironing I was pondering the utter uselessness—like a pair of sandals— of the human agent except as used by the Master. As I thought about it, Re quest formed in my mind. But as is often the case when we pray, I did not fully realize all that I was requesting.

Some two years later we found our selves thousands of miles from home, observing and learning to understand a new culture, lonely for our loved ones left behind, somewhat perplexed but eager still to be used as the Master willed. Ironing again, the thought overwhelmed me that I had opened this door in Request without realizing it, and Sequel was born. We may not understand God's ways, but then, He has not asked us to. We may not particularly like the answer that He sends, but that is beside the point, for He knows best. We may not fully comprehend what we are asking for when we pray, but we are told that the "spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26). But one thing we must understand and never forget is that without Him we are nothing (John 15:5). Only as used by Him are we effective.

Sequel

Father: I asked that You would use me as a pair of sandals for Your holy feet. I did not know. How could I guess how far Your sandaled feet would go?

They led away from home, from comfort, security and ease. But harder yet, from friends and those Held dear by bonds of birth and life and death.

Yes, even these. Away, so far away. You took me at my word. How could I guess?

I only trust You checked and knew just what this lowly pair of sandals could and couldn't do before You shod Your feet.

For daring, strength, and buoyancy and love they well may lack. You alone know all the problems they will meet.

But then, it is

Your daring that will face the foe; Your strength that will endure; Your buoyancy that will surmount the task; Your love that conquers. Love forever pure.

So, may it be You that men will see; Your love they come to seek. And when they listen may they hear Your voice and not these lowly sandals speak.


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July 1976

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