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614.446.9972
melody@barefootpath.org
links & facts you may find interesting
shoes as a pious gesture of humility,
especially appropriate when
approaching holy places.

In Exodus, Moses had to take off his shoes
before approaching the burning bush

Muslims are usually unshod for prayer
(commonly on a prayer mat) or to
attend services in a mosque,
though socks are usually permissible

Some Christian churches practice barefoot
pilgrimage traditions—an example being the
ascent of Croagh Patrick in Ireland

In the Hindu and Buddhist religions, shoes
are removed before entering temples

A Jain monk or nun wanders bare-foot from
place to place (except for the four months of
the rainy season), said to help him or her
avoid killing insects and small animals

Among many neopagan reconstructionists,
bare feet are considered an ideal way to
remain in touch with the elements

In Maori culture, shoes must be taken off
before entering marae as a sign of respect

Going barefoot is also a common form
of mortification, often combined with
others such as pilgrimage,
either as penance or asceticism

Roman Catholic religious orders that
permanently restrict the ability of members
to wear footwear are known as "discalced",
though in reference to certain religious
orders the term means wearing only
sandals on the feet. Barefoot orders
include the barefoot Carmelites or
Camaldolese and the Teresian

Many Pagans, Neopagans, and Native
Americans go barefoot so as to feel
connected to Mother Earth
One night a man had a
dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the
beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed
scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed
two sets of footprints
in the sand: one
belonging to him, and the
other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his
life flashed before him,
he looked back at the
footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many
times along the path of
his life there was only one
set of footprints.
He also noticed that it
happened at the very
lowest and saddest
times in his life.
This really bothered him
and he questioned the
LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once
I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with
me all the way.
But I have noticed
that during the most
troublesome times
in my life,
there is only
one set of footprints.
I don't understand why
when I needed you most
you would leave me."
The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would
never leave you.
During your times of
trial and suffering,
when you see only
one set of footprints,
it was then
that I carried you."