I’ve never considered myself a bona fide shoe aficionado. To me, they’re just a practical necessity. They keep my feet out of the elements, prevent me from stubbing my toe, and stop me from putting my foot in my mouth! But after a knee replacement, I learned the right shoes can keep my body in alignment, provide proper support, and help me to feel my best.
So, there I was at one of the big-box stores, looking for new sneakers amongst the swarms of children getting ready for another school year. In the beginning, humans wore shoes made of animal hides and plant fibers; we’ve come a long way in 40,000 years.
Fast forward to 1917 when Converse’s first tennis shoe, the iconic All Star erupted on the scene. These are the same white high-tops that Wilt Chamberlain laced up for the historic 100-point NBA game in 1962. But it’s 2025, and the athletic shoe options are mind boggling.
One brand declares, “Putting on your shoes has never been easier. No bending over. No pulling them on. No hassles. You never have to touch your shoes again. No kidding!” More good news, they’re machine washable and have a durable Goodyear® Performance Outsole. Gee . . . I can actually kick the tires!
Today’s shoes can speak volumes about your style, interests, values, and even your comfort level. They are the antithesis of the orange PVC unisex sandals worn in jails and prisons that are stripped of individuality and are uncomfortable. Although no one is trying to make a fashion statement, they match the orange prison scrubs or jumpsuits prisoners are issued when they’re incarcerated. And the latest innovation—a unique design that allows a sandal to be worn on either the right or left foot. If an inmate breaks one shoe, you don’t have to give them a replacement pair; you can simply replace one shoe. Who knew?
Abolishing clothing choices in correctional facilities helps to reduce power struggles and competition based on fashion or personal style. Regardless of an individual’s background or social status, everyone wears the same bright orange that is easy for the prison staff to spot from a distance. It levels the playing field and is a daily reminder that all inmates, regardless of the crimes they’ve committed, are subject to the same rules.
Stuck behind bars, the man who once sprinted in Nikes, now walks slowly in plastic slides. A young mother walks up and down the confines of her six-foot by eight-foot cell and wonders if her children will have the basic essentials like school supplies, backpacks, and a new pair of sneakers when they start school this year.
As we step into their footsteps, we are reminded that no matter what shoes we wear, God’s Word is described as “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:05).
William Carey (1761 – 1834) knew the power of the Gospel. He was a shoemaker who kept a map of the world on the wall in front of his work bench. He once remarked, “To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.” As he made and repaired shoes, he would pray and weep over the lost souls of the world. At the age of 32, he became a missionary to India where he translated the Scriptures into over 40 Indian dialects that reached 300 million people. It was souls—not soles—that sparked a new era in missions and earned Carey the title, Father of Modern Missions.
While shoes in our closet wear out and go out of style, the Bible is timeless—always ready to walk with a prisoner—and us—through every season and every trial.
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24 ESV).