THE FIRST FOOTWEAR
In early days
before the origin of the habit of wearing footwear, there was a mighty king who
lived in pomp and prosperity. One day he walked barefoot along the streets in
disguise to learn about the conditions of his countrymen. He returned to the
palace in great pain with bruised and swollen legs as he was not used to
walking barefoot along the country roads. He used to ride on his horse or
chariot whenever he moved out of his palace.
The king summoned
a meeting of all the leather workers of the country. He told his minister that
he was planning to employ them to lay a layer of leather over all the roads of
the country so that his feet would not ache after a walk around the country. At
that time, leather was being made but was used for purposes other than making
footwear. Leather was then used for making clothing, tents, harnesses, carpets,
shields, floats for rafts, containers for liquids like wine, protective armour
of soldiers etc.
The minister thought about
the immense expense involved in paving the roads with leather and wanted to
avoid it. But he was afraid to offend the short-tempered king. So he told him
that paving the common roads would make every citizen including the beggars
walk over the same leather pavement to be used by the king as the public roads
could not be reserved for the king. He made an alternative proposal to cover
the king’s feet with leather of the best quality available in the country. This
would restrict the privilege of shielding the feet during walking to the king
alone.
The king was
glad to hear this splendid suggestion. He got his feet covered with leather and
walked about wearing the novel crude footwear. Later, others imitated the king’s
action and soon footwear changed from a royal luxury to a common necessity.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
St. Paul advises, "Finally, build up
your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power. Put on
all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against
the Devil's evil tricks" {Ephesians 6: 10, 11}.
St. Paul lists the virtues that
serve as our armour: “So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight round your
waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the good news of peace.
At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out
all the burning arrows shot by the evil one. And accept salvation as a helmet,
and the word of God as the sword which the spirit gives you” {Ephesians 6:
14-17}.
The Roman soldiers had strong shoes with
thick soles as an essential component of their armour along with belt,
breastplate, shield, helmet and
sword as listed by St. Paul. The shoes help the soldier to step with freedom
and without fear, providing protection against the sharp rocks, stones, thorns,
brambles and the traps set by the enemies on the way. Shoes provide good grip
to move freely in heat and cold in the rough terrain and slippery slopes of the
battlefield avoiding sliding and stumbling. A soldier walking barefoot is a
misfit in an army even if he has all other components of armour. St. Paul
walked a very long distance in his mission to announce the good news to distant
lands. He was aware of the need of footwear in the mission to spread the good
news. The Gospel and the readiness to announce it protect, comfort and support
us like the shoes we wear to protect our feet. We must be prepared to do our
part in spreading the Gospel of peace and love.
………………………………………………………………………
© By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip,
Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin
University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala,
India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St.
Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St.
Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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