New shoes!! Those two words just got the attention of almost every woman around. Why do we love new shoes so much? I am sure men around the world are dying to understand this small mystery too. The answer is simple. A new pair of shoes is a new opportunity for us to shine. A new pair of shoes can bring life back to an old outfit, build up a woman’s confidence and force her to walk through life with a little more grace if the heel is high enough.
There’s a lot of unspoken power in a new pair of shoes. Of course, as with most things in life, there’s no pleasure without a little pain. They may look vogue; but, first you’ve gotta break them in.
If you think about it, life is a lot like one big shoe closet with each season in our life represented by just a pair of shoes we wore as we travelled our ever – changing path. At first, change may look fabulous! We imagine all the new stuff we will do and dream up a whole new life- with a newfound spirit filling every space. But, real change, like a great pair of shoes, can be hard to break in. Once we make the commitment to the change, we immediately feel the pressure as our new world pinches a little tighter than we are comfortable with. We may have a little “buyer’s remorse”, even wishing we could just go back to our old sneakers with the hole in the big toe. But if God wanted us to wear holey sneakers for the rest of our lives, he never would’ve created such cute stilettos, right?
I’ve been thinking a lot about change lately. I went to church this Sunday, and Jonathan McGuire’s sermon was also on change. So, I read the neon sign God was showing me and decided to share my thoughts! Life comes at you fast and sometimes can make you feel like a desert tumbleweed, being tossed down a dirt road in a wind of change. Other times, things grow stagnant and boring and you crave a change to breathe new life back in. And, then there are times when we outgrow our favorite pair of shoes; or they’ve run their course, and God forces our hand at change. This change is usually the most painful new pair of shoes to “break in” because we’ve gotten too comfortable; but is also the most defining.
Change doesn’t always have to be the end of something, though. There are times when God brings us through change to help us evolve and grow to better serve Him and His plan. God forced my hand at change almost six years ago so I could fall in love and marry the best dad my kids could ever have during their teen years; and come back and serve the community I love. This was also true for my buddy Sidney Cobb. As an artist and musician, Sidney craved changed and inspiration. He moved to the coastal area of North Carolina and made a living playing music at beach restaurants and in graphic design. For years, Sidney was given the chance to fine tune and expand his artistic expression. Now he’s back home serving his beloved town as the Director of the Humphreys County Library. With his talents, Sidney is able to inspire our youth to explore their own creative spirit and fuel their imaginations toward a better tomorrow. American publisher Sylvia Beach once said, “Fitting a person with books is about as difficult as fitting them with shoes.” How wonderful is it that God gave Sidney a new pair of “shoes” to spice up the old wardrobe that was our library; and the talent to help fit our youth with new shoes of their own?
Each change we experience in life, like our shoes, should be worn proudly and used purposefully. Then we can put them on a shelf to be taken down when needed to repurpose our life. And, just like a pair of stilettos, wear the change with grace and appreciation for its beauty. Break those beauties in!!!
In celebration of Boot Season, our wonderful Library and Change, I’ve included Sidney’s Belzoni Bourbon Vanilla Sauce recipe! It’s perfect over a bowl of ice cream or bread pudding!
AND DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD!!!
Belzoni BOURBON Vanilla SAUCE
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
Heat the cream, half-and-half, vanilla, and sugar in a saucepan over high heat, stirring, for 2-3 minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in the bourbon. When bubbles form around the edges of the cream, add the bourbon mixture while stirring. As the cream boils up, remove the pot from the heat and continue stirring heartily until thoroughly blended and slightly thickened. Place over low heat and simmer for about a minute. It makes 2 cups!
Lessons Learned From The Rainbow 