Pack, Repack, Repack, Check
My modus operandi for going on vacation usually has a particular time frame.
At least three weeks out, start packing.
Two weeks out, sort through the three suitcases I’ve prepared for a weeklong trip. Pare it down to two suitcases.
One week out, go through everything again and pick out essentials to pack in the final, single bag. Start setting aside all makeup, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous stuff I will need.
A few days out, look through everything one more time, pack a small duffle or bag of some sort to hold the extras. You know, things I think I need that I can’t cram into the main bag.
For our trip last week, instead of packing, I spent the weeks before doing my recent Swedish death purge routine. Then I cleaned and prepared for two daughters and their families to come spend a few days before heading to the beach. It was a crazy week that included lots of family fun but also a bathroom remodel and other business.
Anyway.
I made an unwise choice to throw everything in a suitcase at the last minute. MISTAKE!
I was wearing a comfortable pair of shoes. Check.
I brought my sandals I use when I do art stuff. They are ugly but still serviceable for beach wear. Check.
I need to give a wee bit of backstory before the picture and my goof of the day is explained.
Along with all my other ‘old lady issues’, my feet are a mess. Because I have had times when comfortable shoes are no longer available and something happens to one pair, I buy duplicates of good fitting shoes. Stuff happens is all I can say. So it is perfectly justifiable to order two extra identical pairs of sandals, just in case.
Therein was my problem.
As I hurriedly stuffed my clothes, toiletries, and everything else into a big suitcase at the last minute, I forgot extra shoes. I found a small paper bag and crammed in my crummy beach shoes, placed a good pair of sandals beside them, and set them by the door for Ronald to pack into the car.
Back in the day, I was in the required ballroom dancing sessions of gym class — yes, folks, they did teach that! As I am rather clumsy, I’m sure my dance partners thought I had two left feet when they swirled me around in a rowdy polka or graceless waltz. If I had packed two left sandals instead of two right ones, I guess it would have worked.
But I didn’t. I wore my rather new walking shoes all the time I was not at the beach.
In the grand scheme of life, it really is no biggie. I just chalk it up to another ‘Grammie Moment’ and write a nonsensical blog about it.
But here’s two bits of knowledge to end on.
From the 14th century B.C. to the mid 1800’s, shoes rarely had Right/Left designation or design. Poorly fitting shoes were particularly hard on combat personnel but also practical for the troops who often marched through muddy fields and ditches losing shoes along the way. Finding other shoes in the general size of the missing ones was relatively easy on the battlefield, and salvaging clothes, food, and shoes of the fallen was fairly standard practice. I guess that puts a different spin on ‘finders keepers.’
So now that you are duly enlightened on that account, let me share a better bit of wisdom or two.
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Be sure that everything is done properly and in order. “ Missed that one for sure!
In Acts 12, Peter is in prison. An angel appeared and told Peter to put on his sandals and wrap his cloak around himself. As Peter obeyed, he was led through various gates and check points in the prison to freedom.
In Exodus, these instructions were given for the Passover: “Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency…”
Can I apply these to my own life? You betcha! Think about putting on the full armor of God. Those shoes as well as the other parts of armor are needed now more than ever. Be ready and dressed for the spiritual battles to come!
Blessings
KB
