The following was originally posted on July 19, 2016. It has been edited.
I have long admired the poem, "Footprints." This popular devotional recalls how a person looks back at their life with God and sees two sets of footprints in the sand where they walked side by side. However, at one point it is noticed that there is only one set of footprints. This raises concern until God points out that the one set of footprints bears testimony to God's carrying during the difficult times. Nice. It hopes onto and lifts up an important faith claim - God remains with us throughout all of life. Good and bad. Further, God carries us when we lack the strength to make footprints of our own.
The other morning, I was walking along the beach. I was by myself and I noticed how cool the wet sand felt underneath my bare feet. With each step I could feel a slight suction as the sand with futile effort tried to capture my feet. The Pacific Ocean had already wiped the beach clean of all evidence of any other travelers. I walked along an untouched beach and left my meager mark. As far as I could look back and see where I had walked there was only one pair of footprints.
I thought to myself, "Wait. There should be two sets of prints!" The physical evidence of my presence pointed to a reality over looked by the poem. As we travel on "terra firma" there is only one set of footprints that are left behind. Unless, of course, we hold someone else's hand. This is not to deny God's presence. God's presence is near, ahead, behind, aside, and even within (with each "pneuma/spirit-rich" breath). God accompanies, carries, and even prods us along the way. That said, if we decide to walk along life's beach "just God and me" then something will be missed. There will be only one step of footprints.
At the risk of inciting anger and indignation for challenging our beloved piety, I wonder if the "Footprints" poem sidetracks us. If we take the biblical witness into account and assign it greater value than our popular devotion, then we need to address poetic oversight. We were created to be in COMMUNITY. According to Genesis 2:18, God's intention was that we were never to walk alone. God desires that along our life's journey there would be at least two sets of footprints!
It is time that we set aside our individual-centric religiosity. This life that we have been gifted to live is meant to be lived with others. Our guiding metaphors for living our lives of faith would better serve us if they departed from the "Jesus and me against the world as we walk that lonesome valley" mentality. What if we began to include the created-intention of living life in relationship with others when we contemplate our faith walk?
I'm not saying that we forego solitude. As one who is an introverted processor, I need times when I am all by myself in order to think things through and refresh. In those times when I am apart and by myself, I remain in community and relationship with others. Desert monastic orders understood this truth. If we are to stay true to our created selves, then we maintain a connection to community.
The problem that I see with 'Me and Jesus' is that ultimately it deteriorates to a 'Me and ME' zeal. We create (and judge) a way of spiritual travel that flows unchecked in the direction of our own desires. God becomes relegated to our own fabrication. Without the encouragement, presence, and even correction of others, we are destined to traverse down a path that ultimately is more a reflection of ourselves than it is of God; a lonely path to be sure.
The Eucharistic table can offer a good correction. When we come to celebrate with thanksgiving at this table (or we drag our tired and worn bodies regardless) we encounter God's vision for our life. We encounter others who, like ourselves, are hungry from the journey. We find an invitation to participate in a community of fellow travelers... To add our unique footprints alongside the beautiful footprints of others. After we leave the table, we ought to be able to look back and see the marks of travel of those with whom we have shared a common meal. Footprints large and small, heading into a variety of directions. We are not alone in our lives. God walks with us (plural). Thanks be to God!