Holy Feet

This morning I helped host a table at the Women's Forum our church did. It was the last in a series of 4 or so that were done this year. Some topics in the past included: What is it to be a woman?, What is it to value your sexuality? (which was a huge hit and got everyone stirred up and talking), and What is it to have a woman's body? Today was What is it to be a woman in the church? It was good to sit with a mix of women I don't normally hang out with or whom I have never met and talk about where we fit in the church, and what the church really is (and isn't).

One woman, whom I'll call Violet, I got to spend quite a bit of time with. She is in her 50's and has some body issues and past experiences that are full of shame. She talked very quietly and kept her hand in front of her face most of the time. She is unsure of how to give of her gifts in the church, but wants to. When the time came to wash each other's feet we were asked to pray for one another as Christ to each other. Violet asked me to do this with her. She told me she could not kneel because of her health issues, and I wasn't sure at first whether she wanted to pray for me. I (foolishly) thought I might need to lead out the time with her, but instead, she led it out with me. She started praying for me and at first it was quiet and general but then she started praying more deeply than what I had asked her to pray for. This not only surprised me, but as I listened it seemed to me that Christ was praying over me. In the person of Violet He had come to me.

She then tenderly took my feet in her hands and started to wash them. It's really amazing what something as simple as washing one another's feel does to a relationship. I found myself getting all teary over this woman caring for me in this way. She took her time and washed each toe. This woman who seemed so unsure of herself and so much shame surrounding her story - gave generously to me. And as I looked around most of the other women were getting weepy as well. Something about being served that we feel unworthy of perhaps.

My feet feel holy now. They have been washed and touched tenderly by a woman who gave all she had to give to me - Christ. I pray I gave Christ to her as well as I had the privilege of washing her hands (she was uncomfortable with me washing her feet) and praying over her.

I think we should wash each others feet more often.