How are they to proclaim [the Lord] unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15-16a)

Ok, let’s get this out of the way: My feet are not pretty. I’m guessing it has a lot to do with four decades of soccer, various other unkindnesses to feet, and maybe a distantly related Hobbit or two in the family gene pool.

However, and this has absolutely nothing to do with wearing open-toed sandals, I’m proud to say that, according to the scriptures, my feet are beautiful!

I’ve been criticized in the past for having a “Pollyanna view” of life, “looking through rose-colored glasses,” and “relentless naiveté.” All this, it turns out, because I have beautiful feet.

“You’ll never be a real writer,” one masters level writing class participant crowed, “until you learn to ditch some of that d—-d optimism.”

“So sorry,” I could have said, “but it look’s like someone is jealous of my beautiful feet!”

BEAUTIFUL! The Good News is so beautiful that many people simply can’t hear it, won’t hear it; it’s so radical that it threatens the status quo that holds things together; it’s so brilliant that the sad souls who need to receive it the most, often turn away; it’s so stunning that those it was delivered to save cover their eyes and their ears, saying, “I’m not listening, I can’t see anything…”

The Good News is drop-dead gorgeous, and that can seem like a real threat to those who are pushing some other story. But for those who receive the Good News – “for those who receive him, who believe in his name,” John writes, “Jesus gives power to become [beautiful] children of God…” (John 1:12, paraphrase)

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:10-14)

But for those who receive the Good News – God’s unfailing love and faithfulness; for those who are open to the story – the light and the glory; even my beat up feet appear beautiful – DEREK