The Shoes of Happiness
This is taken from my church's bulletin, something that spoken to my heart even before the powerful service starts. I won't comment much, but let the Holy Spirit speak directly into your heart as only He can speak.
[Update:] Click here to listen to the service's message
God Bless.
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Famed preacher-poet Edwin Markham captured the essence of Christ-like living and giving in relating the story of Conrad the Cobbler. In his classic work “The Shoes of Happiness,” Markham states that saintly Conrad had a vivid dream in which he was told Christ would visit his humble cobbler shop on a certain day. The dream was so real that Conrad was certain Jesus would indeed come. So he decorated his simple shop with boughs of green and prepared breads and cakes to serve the Master.
Early on the morning that Jesus was to visit, two of Conrad’s friends came by, and Conrad shared the dramatic dream with them. They wanted to wait for the Master with him because they knew that if anyone in the village would ever have visit from Jesus, it would be kindly Conrad. However, Conrad told them the Lord had said specifically that He wanted to visit with the cobbler alone.
Markham wrote:
“His friends went home; and his face grew still
As he watched for the shadow across the sill;
He lived all the moments over and over,
When the Lord should enter the lowly door.
The knock, the call, the latch pulled up,
The lighted face, the offered cup.
He would wash the feet where the spikes had been;
He would kiss the hands where the nails went in;
And then at last he would sit with Him
And break the bread as the day grew dim.
But the Master did not come. Instead, a beggar knocked on the door and asked for a pair of shoes. Conrad was irritated by the interruption, but his kindly heart would not let him ignore the need of the old man. He hurriedly made the shoes and gave them to the poor beggar, rushing him off so he would not interrupt or prevent the visit of the Great Guest.
A little later, another knock sounded, and Conrad was sure this was the Master. But it was only a hungry old woman carrying a heavy load of sticks. She asked for food, which Conrad reluctantly gave her. The only food he had was what he had prepared for the Master. With each bite, Conrad’s heart sank. He feared he would have nothing left for his Lord, and he secretly hoped she would leave a little. However, she devoured every crumb. Then the old woman asked if Conrad would help her to the edge of the village because her load was heavy. He did not want to leave the shop, but again the cobbler could not turn down the frail old woman. He wrote a hasty note and put it on the door, hoping the Master would not miss it and leave.
When Conrad returned, the note was still there, undisturbed, so he knew the Master had not yet come. Late in the evening, there was a final knock on the cobbler’s door. Conrad’s heart leapt within him, knowing at last this would be the Master. But when he opened the door, he found a lost and crying child.
“Mister, I’m lost,” the little lad cried. “Will you please help me find my home?”
Conrad sighed, gathered the little tot in his arms, retrieved his note from the wastebasket and again placed it on his shop door. He took the lost lad far across the village to his worried mother. Rushing back, he hoped he had not missed the Master and then saw the well-used note still unmoved. Conrad knew Jesus had not yet made His visit.
As the midnight hour approached, Conrad knew now the Master would not appear at his door. It really had only been a dream. The kind cobbler’s heart was broken, and in his crushing sadness, Conrad fell to his knees crying:
“Why is it, Lord, that Your feet delay?
“Did You forget that this was the day?”
Then, soft in the silence, a voice he heard:
“Lift up your heart, for I have kept My word.
“Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
“I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
“I was the woman you gave to eat;
“I was the child on the homeless street.”