Dirty Feet

Jesus sends the disciples out to get the lay of the land, so to speak, to try their hand at his ministry. And as a good teacher, he gives them all sorts of packing advice. Actually, it reads more like a list of 'what is not allowed at camp.' It is a list filled with not's; what not to bring, what not to do. One of his instructions to them is to shake the dust from their feet of any place that does not accept them, does not listen to them...and so is not listening to Jesus, in effect!

We studied this text at a Session meeting recently at my internship church. It was a great discussion by the elders, filled with as many questions as observations. And I must admit, it has always been a story that leaves me with lots of questions. But I find myself this time pondering the shaking of the dust part of the story the most. Usually it is the part of the story where he tells them not to take any money...I have some issues of trust and security around money, but that's for another post! No, this time, it was this idea to leave the ingrates behind. Jesus doesn't call them ingrates, that's my editorial comment. But ingrates they seem to me. And so he says to them; don't bother with them, don't waste your time, keep on moving forward, head on to more fertile land. Spend your time where we will reap something for your efforts.

It is interesting that this story is told in Matthew, Mark and Luke and each one of them uses that exact phrase to 'shake the dust' from your feet. Obviously it impressed them! Of course, I think of the dirty part of the dust. But I think it was more for them. It was the actual place where they were...the dust of THAT land, that town or village.

It all sounds great. At first. Just be done with those places that won't have you or your message. But I found myself wondering 'just how easy IS that, Jesus?' And when do you know it's time to shake the dust off? How much dust do you let pile up before you say, hey, it's time to start shaking this stuff off my dirty feet? How did the disciples decide 'enough is enough'? How did they know when to pull the plug and move on out? How much of an investment or price do you pay before you call it quits? Exactly how dirty do you let your feet get?

Jesus paints a not too pretty picture of what will happen to those places of dust that you have had to shake from your feet. Something along the lines of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were smited if you don't remember. The whole towns just up in smoke...just like that. And Jesus says those towns will be better off than the ones that make your feet dirty. Wow...

One benefit Jesus gave the disciples was a partner. There were lots of things he told them NOT to take, but a partner was on the packing list. He sent them off into the dusty terrain in pairs, with another. They were not asked to go it alone. So perhaps that is how they made the decision to stay or not to stay. Another mind, another heart, another one to council and pray with, to make the decision with. It seems to me life is always better with another. But certainly in this case, someone to ask 'how dirty are my feet? Should I keep trying here, or give it up, shake this dust from my feet, and move on?'