Thirsty Boots

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, abut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. Matthew 10:5-15

A song kept going through my head this morning from my much younger days. I don't know why but I used to sing it all the time. "So take off your thirsty boots and stay for a while, your feet are hot and weary from a dusty mile. And maybe I can make you laugh, maybe I can try, I'm just looking for the evening, the morning in your eye." Eric Anderson wrote as a hymn of solace of sorts for the civil rights workers in the height of the conflict. I learned it from my friends in this little town many long years ago.

Jesus sends his disciples forth and tells them to stay where they are welcomed and to shake the dust off their feet when they are not. Some folks won't welcome ministry, some won't welcome change and prophets, but for those who do, a whole array of gifts and joy awaits them. Ministry is a gift given, a gift to be shared, and those who refuse it, make a choice to refuse. Times change but taking to the road to serve has not. We are all invited to take to the road in order to serve.

Today, I ask God to help me continue on the road, to help me keep these thirsty boots walking forward. Help me God to offer what I have without price. Help me to be grateful for the solace and welcome where I find it. And help us all keep on the road of service today.




Thirsty Boots by Eric Anderson

You've long been on the open road,
You've been sleeping in the rain,
From dirty words and muddy cells
Your clothes are smeared and stained,
But the dirty words and muddy cells
Will soon be hid in shame
So only stop to rest yourself
Till you are off again

Chorus:

So take off your thirsty boots
and stay for a while,
Your feet are hot and weary,
from a dusty mile,
And maybe I can make you laugh,
maybe I can try,
I'm just looking for the evening,
the morning in your eye.

So tell me of the ones you saw
As far as you could see
Across the plain from field to town
A-marching to be free
And of the rusted prison gates
That tumbled by degree
Like laughing children, one by one,
They look like you and me

Chorus.

I know you are no stranger down
The crooked rainbow trails
From dancing cliff-edged shattered sills
Of slandered, shackled jails
For the voices drift up from below
As the walls they're being scaled
Yes, all of this, and more, my friend,
Your song shall not be failed.

Chorus.

Yes, you've long been on the open road
You've been sleeping in the rain
From dirty words and muddy cells
Your clothes are smeared and stained
But the dirty words, the muddy cells,
They'll soon be judged insane
So only stop to rest yourself
'til you are off again.

Chorus.