The Shoes of Readiness

“… and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” – Ephesians 6:15

In The Way of Kings, Kaladin begins training a group of men for battle by teaching them simply to stand: “‘We’re going to spend all day today—and probably each day this week—working on stances. Learning to maintain one, learning to not lock your knees the moment you’re threatened, learning to hold your center of balance. It will take time, but I promise you if we start here, you’ll learn to be deadly far more quickly. Even if it seems that all you’re doing at first is standing around.’”

Paul focuses on something similar. The point of putting on our spiritual armor, he says, is not to launch some complicated offensive tactic, but simply to stand and not be moved: “… that you may be able to withstand… stand firm. Stand, therefore…” In ancient times, battles were often won or lost based on the weight of one army thrown against that of another. “The one needful thing,” writes one commentator, “was that a man should stand firm and resist the shock of enemies as they rushed upon him.” A key piece of armor, then, were shoes. Roman soldiers wore heavy sandals, with soles two centimeters thick and studded with hobnails, to help them get a secure foothold.

What we are to put on our feet is not the gospel itself, but the readiness it gives us. God’s gospel, Paul emphasizes, is news of peace, and standing firm on this peace makes us ready to face whatever may try to shake us. “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The peace of the gospel is like an armed force in our hearts, able to guard us against circumstances and forces that would otherwise overwhelm us or cause us to stumble. It gives us a preparedness of spirit and alacrity that like hobnailed boots help us stand firm, whatever comes.

Lately, I’ve found myself facing unexpected anxiety as things start back up. It feels like I’m still managing the ongoing demands of sheltering in place, in addition to now adapting to activities with new constraints and unclear outcomes. I always knew life wouldn’t be going back to the way it was before, but it takes equanimity to face the new measures and unknowns that come with resuming surgeries, social gatherings, sports, and eventually school. Our worlds continue to change. The foes we battle continue to come at us. But we can stand firm, having shod our feet with a readiness that comes from the peace we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.