The important lesson I learned from running – Boots of Peace, Part 1

I run for exercise, and so when I see other runners on the roads around my community, I look to see what kind of gear they wear, and in particular what kind of shoes they wear.  What shoes we wear is a big topic among runners.  Shoes make a huge difference.

When I was training for my first marathon in 2011, I started off using old cheapo sneakers I had for a few years.  As my training mileage increased to 8 or 9 miles, I started having pain in my ankles and knees.  I had never run that far in my life, and when the pain hit, I got concerned.  I was way far away from the 26 miles of a marathon.  If my ankles and knees were feeling like this at 8 or 9 miles, there’s no way I could do 26. 

I was talking it over with a friend of mine, and he asked me, “What kind of shoes are you wearing?”  I told him about my cheapo shoes, and he said, “You need new shoes, better shoes, long-distance running shoes.”  So I went to the running store, and they fitted me with some shoes that I thought were way too expensive.  But I had to admit, they felt amazing.  I started running on those shoes and within days the pain was gone, and I was increasing my miles.  The shoes made all the difference, and I completed the marathon with them.

In Ephesians 6:15, Paul describes the next piece of armor in our study of the Armor of God, and it relates to footwear.  The sentence in verse 15 actually begins in verse 14 with the words “Stand firm.”  When we put on the pieces of the armor of God, God’s armor will help us stand firm against the evil one.  So far we studied two pieces of armor.  We stand firm with the Belt of Truth buckled around our waist (six part blog series starting here).  We stand firm with the Breastplate of Righteousness in place (six part blog series starting here).  Now we read that we stand firm, “with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

What armor is Paul talking about?  Let’s read it again.  See if you can figure out what piece of armor he is referring to.  “[Stand firm]…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

Very much like the Belt of Truth, in verse 14, in which Paul never actually mentions the word “belt,” so here in verse 15, when he mentions the Boots of Peace, he never actually mentions the word “boots.” Instead of boots, what does he mention?

He mentions an action: “Tie up underneath your feet.”  Or “Fit your feet with.”

It’s the image of a first century soldier putting on their footwear.  In our day, think of the boots that soldiers wear. 

They are like hiking sneaker boots.  The purpose of soldiers’ boots in the First Century as in our day is not to protect their feet.  In war, it is rare that feet are attacked.  In some professions people must wear steel-toed and steel-soled boots to protect feet from heavy equipment or material dropping on them or from stepping on a nail.  Instead the footwear of first century soldiers, like the footwear of contemporary soldiers, is designed for mobility.  Flexibility.  Movement.  Running. 

So like I said above, I pay attention to what shoes people are wearing when I see them running.  That’s why it amazes me that there is a guy who runs around our community barefoot!  Typically he runs in the evening.  If you google it, barefoot running is a thing.  Some claim it is better for you than wearing sneakers. 

In a way, I get it.  Not all sneakers are right for every foot.  For many years I wore Brooks Adrenaline GTS.  Then one year I tried Brooks Ghost because they were on sale.  Big mistake.  My feet and ankles hurt again. 

But then there is that barefoot guy. How does he do it?  Clearly, he must have developed serious thick callouses on the soles of his feet.  But is it possible that he never steps on a pebble, or glass, or metal?  My thought is that if we want to be ready, whether it is running, or if we do a lot of standing, or if we work outside, or whatever your station in life, it is imperative that we have the right footwear so that we can be mobile. That mobility seems to be what Paul has in mind when he describes the footwear in the armor of God.

We learn why in the next post.

Cover Photo by Malik Skydsgaard on Unsplash

Boots photo by Ryan Hoffman on Unsplash