Number five comes from the FAITH series. It is a fictional story that invites us to consider what is most important in our lives.
The Cobbler - A Parable
STEP ONE: BREATHE
Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.
STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD
“Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts s up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
— Psalm 146: 5-9
There once was an old cobbler who lived in a remote village. While working, he whistled a happy tune. Although he always seemed to have enough work to survive, the cobbler was not wealthy. Over the years, when folks hit hard times and couldn't afford to pay, he'd fix their shoes without charge. The cobbler would always say that as long as he was able, no one's footwear in that village was going to be in disrepair. He took great pride in fixing all holes and worn out places.
One day a stranger walked into the cobbler's shop. He wore a dark cloak and a wide- brimmed hat. Dressed in all in black, the traveler had a mysterious way about him. In a crackly voice, he said, "fix my boots, and in three days when I return, I shall give you your heart's desire." The stranger produced from under his cloak a pair of tattered boots; put them on the counter and disappeared.
As the cobbler held the boots in his hand, he wondered where they had been. The leather was scratched and battered. Both soles had large holes, and the chipped heels were almost worn away.
He had his work cut out for him; this repair wasn't going to be easy. For a job of this size, three days was a challenge. Furthermore, he was afraid of what the stranger might do if the task was uncompleted and not to his satisfaction. After pushing aside
the other shoes on his bench, the cobbler began in earnest. For the next seventy-two hours, he did not stop, sleep, or eat.
Although riches had never driven the cobbler before, he was intrigued by the stranger's promise to give his heart's desire. With hands busy, he reflected upon what that might mean. Was his heart's desire to have enough money that he would never again need to worry about making ends meet? Did he desire fame? A castle on the hill with servants and an army to keep him safe? Did he want for his family, now grown, to never face hardship or distress? Could his wife, who died last year, be restored to life?
The cobbler's experienced hands removed the sole and heel from the boot. Due to extensive wear, these needed replacement. These soles had traveled many roads. If only they could speak, imagine the tales they'd tell. The cobbler tossed the silent scraps into the waste bin. There was no time for idle wanderings of the mind; there was work to do!
As he cut and sized the new leather soles, the cobbler recalled the days that he apprenticed in his trade. He was a mere boy. While learning from an experienced mentor, he made many mistakes. His teacher made him take apart many shoes until he got the sizing and lacing just right. It wasn't easy, but as he gained patience, so too did he acquire a sense of pride in an ever-increasing skill. So many times, he wanted to give up. Many nights he prayed for the strength to keep going.
When he finished the soles for the stranger's boots, the cobbler was glad that he had the courage back then to stay with it. Fixing footwear turned out to be an excellent way to make a living. Over the years, he was able to help others out and live out his Christian vocation behind his cobbler's bench.
As he sewed the soles back onto the boots, his thoughts shifted to the many connections that he made in the broader community. Everybody needed his services at one time or another. When folks came into his shop, he treated them equally and with respect. It didn't matter whether someone was rich or poor - the cobbler treated each one like he imagined that Jesus would do.
On Sundays, instead of opening his shop, he would go with his family to the local church. In those days, it seemed like the whole town came out to worship. Together they praised God and heard stories of the Bible. His favorites were from the life of Jesus. Although Jesus was a carpenter and worked with wood and not leather, the cobbler felt a kinship. He found inspiration and courage from Jesus to live his life with compassion, kindness, and generosity.
Once he attached the sole, the cobbler set to work upon fastening the heel. Tap. Tap. Tap. With a little hammer, he pounded tiny nails into the underside of the boot. A heel, affixed properly, allowed a rider to dig into the stirrups and stay in the saddle. It brought to mind how his prayer and worship practices kept him going through the rough days of life.
If it wasn't for his faith, he doubted that he would have made it through the darkest of days while he watched the love of his life fade away. Her illness was beyond even the best healer's abilities. When she died, everything in the cobbler's life seemed worn away. Just as these thoughts swirled around his mind, a tear formed in the corner of his eye. It still hurt. Gravity pulled the salty liquid down to splash upon the new heel.
The vamp, toe, counter, and shaft of the boot were heavily damaged. Dirt from unknown lands filled the deep cuts. With a soft damp cloth, the cobbler scrubbed gently. After drying the wet leather, he worked lanolin cream into the clean scratches. Slowly and deliberately, the soothing balm made its way into the boot. A gentle buffing brought back the luster of the leather, making it look like new.
Now the cobbler thought about the role that forgiveness played in his life. Each week, he sought forgiveness from God and others. Asking and giving forgiveness were essential parts of the cobbler's faith. Again, following in the path of Jesus, he knew that forgiveness wasn't an option that he could disregard. Forgiveness helped to repair the scratches of life and restore its luster. Without it, life would crumble and crack.
As the sun rose on the third day, the cobbler finished his task. Thanks to the master cobbler's skilled hands, the boots were good as new. On a small scrap of paper, he wrote a note to the stranger. Putting the slip into the boot, he took the pair and placed them on the front stoop of the shop. He closed the door behind him and locked up his place of business. The cobbler was tired and headed home to go to bed.
Later that morning, the stranger returned to find his renewed boots waiting for him outside of a closed shoe-repair shop. Holding them, he admired the cobbler's skill. He read the note. It said, "For the last three days, these boots reminded me that the greatest treasure in life, my heart's desire is that of my faith. Over the years, it has given me courage, strength, and connection. I am grateful for the blessing that my faith continues to be for me. With gratitude, I mark this bill - paid in full."
STEP THREE: RESPOND IN PRAYER
Gracious God, allow me to be grateful for the gift of faith that you have given me. Let me express my appreciation by being generous with my time, talent, and treasures. Through Christ, amen.
Permission granted to share with friends and family. Copyrighted 2019. Walt Lichtenberger