Why Aren't Your Shoes Tied

(from the archives of 2002 - slightly edited)

I ran into an interesting brother today. An average brother I suppose, in his early thirties. We'd talked several times before, and often times he would share his goals and dreams with me. He wanted to change the world through a ministry of music. He spent his spare time writing lyrics and working out compositions on a small keyboard in his bedroom. Each time he talked to me about his future music career, his eyes would widen with excitement as he described his vision of an audience cheering and applauding at the mention of his name. I could actually see the stars twinkling in his eyes as he sang me a line or two of one of his pieces.

As he talked with me today, I took a minute to absorb his appearance. His hair was beaded tightly to his scalp, badly in need of grooming. I could tell a few days had gone by since he'd last shaved. Though he had not worked this particular day, he was dressed in what appeared to be his 'yard work' clothes, a pair of dirty and tattered jeans coupled with a faded long sleeved t-shirt.  Then I saw his shoes - a pair of black faux-suede Hush Puppies. They were nice shoes, fashionable and impressive even, for his usual taste and style. I noticed that the laces were untied and walked over. Suddenly, the shoe wasn't as nice; it wasn't as impressive. I frowned.

"Why aren't your shoes tied?" I asked.

He looked down and immediately dismissed the laces with a quick wave of his hand. "I got these shoes from Wal-Mart; the shoe strings are cheap. If I tie 'em up, they'll be untied again in fifteen minutes."

My thoughts about what he'd just said were many, but I kept my comment to a bare minimum.  "Oh."

So my question is: How can you change the world if you can even keep your shoes tied?

This brother found it to be such a challenge that he wouldn't even attempt to do it. How can you effectively impact the lives of others if the effort requried to execute a simple task is overwhelming for you? Is Wal-Mart really to blame for this man's inability to keep his shoes tied, or is this a classic example of blame shifting?

Many times we are unwilling to accept that we are greatly responsible for the forming, shaping, and creation of our futures. We find that it is much easier to fault another for our failures and shortcomings. If you carefully consider where you are, how you are, and why you are the way you are, how much of your reasoning can you honestly say points back to YOU?

As you come to the realization that there are several things in you life that you control, you will be forced to either accept or refuse the responsibility.

So tell me...why aren't your shoes tied?