Now that the snow has finally melted, I am back on track with cycling on a more regular basis. Today, I managed to do about 35 kms. It felt like I was flying for the first half of the ride but the way back was tough going with a head-strong wind blowing at 32 km/h. My feet felt frozen after cycling for over an hour since the temperature was still only about 4 C and reaching home, they took about an hour to thaw. No wonder I’ve been thinking a lot about feet a lot lately!

Feet are an incredible contributor for effective cycling.  To maximize their usefulness, I have learned it is important to have the right kind of shoes especially for going long distances.  In contrast to my bendable, lightweight jogging shoes; my cycling shoes do not bend and are quite heavy.  They also have steel clips on the soles that can latch onto the pedals to increase efficiency.  That means my foot does not just work on the forward motion but also works when it moves back and upwards.  This efficiency ensures movement is sustained and wear and tear on my feet is much less compared to using regular running shoes.  The only downside of these clip-on shoes is when a sudden stop has to be made.  If I don’t twist my foot out in time, I will fall still attached to my bike.

Reflecting back on the Ephesians 6 “armor of God”, I am struck by the reference to feet in verse 14.  An important part of the armor for fighting spiritual forces and keeping faith strong is to make sure our feet are “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”.  Now what does that mean, especially when it comes to fight forces of poverty, disaster and injustice on our world today?  For me, it emphasizes the importance of World Renew’s work in peace-building and trauma healing.  Did you know that one of the major reasons people continue to live in poverty and hunger is due to conflict and war?  Even if the major conflicts have ended, there are years, if not decades, of restoring broken relationships before deep and lasting levels of development can be achieved.

 An important part of the armor for fighting spiritual forces and keeping faith strong is to make sure our feet are “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”.

I remember this clearly in my work in Rwanda right after the genocide in 1994.  We tried to implement a goat program and constantly met challenges with community members not trusting each other.  They were still traumatized and highly suspicious of their neighbors who had turned against them.  How could they agree on who would get the first offspring of the goats when there was very little trust?  I realized that trust was essential for building any relationship and relationships were essential for building community.  Forgiveness and experiencing the healing of God’s love were essential for rebuilding trust and restoring peace.  And where did that peace-building power come from?  It had to come from a power beyond human strength, the spirit of forgiveness and healing that Christ gives when we accept him in our hearts.  And how do we get to know this peace-building power?  It comes from the gospel.  It is encouraging to hear stories now from Rwanda that show the power of forgiveness is changing the story to peace and reconciliation.

My feet are not a very attractive part of my body.  While I have great respect for them in taking me all over the world, including long rides on a bike; I don’t really like looking at them.  If I don’t wash them daily, they have a bad odor I can hardly tolerate.  I am not keen on doing a pedicure and have never put nail polish on my toenails.  In college, I would fear that one of my roomies would take advantage of my ability to sleep soundly by painting my toe nails a bright red!   Given my aversion to my own feet, I find it quite amazing that when Christ decided to show the depth of his love, he washed the disciples’ feet!  He loves my feet too, way more than I love them.  He calls me and anyone who follows him to use their feet to go and share the depth of his love with others, especially those who are in distress of poverty and oppressed.

As I cycle today and look forward to doing it with Sea to Sea, I think God’s amazing love truly is the best shoe for my soul and the sole of my foot.  He is able to give the proper “shoes” that maximize efficient development that is lasting and sustainable.  Those “shoes” are his good news for the world, the message of peace that restores all broken relationships.  As Romans 10:15 says “how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things”.

I am inspired as I prepare for my long Sea to Sea ride this summer, celebrating that my feet are equipped by God to bring peace.  I am also incredibly grateful for World Renew staff, our partners, community leaders I work with and all of God’s workers around the world who serve long hours on rough roads so that all people may know God’s peace.  How about you?

Do your feet bring God’s peace?  In a troubled world, peace-building shoes are well-worth using for cycling against poverty!

Thanks and blessings,

Ida Kaastra Mutoigo

Co-Director
World Renew