The idea was inspired in part by artist Paul Hobbs' installation, Holy Ground, which premiered at Greenbelt in 2005 - sponsored by the Church Missionary Society.

It was a collection of shoes from Christians around the world and each pair tells a story. Among the donated footwear were contributions from a world champion runner, a former Indian prostitute and Hitler's goddaughter. The shoes on display were accompanied by the personal testimonies from a broad range of people across the world.

And so I am seeking shoe stories for our own version. You may not want to give up your prized shoes, I could just borrow them, ….what I’m really interested is the stories. For example a young girl who has experienced homelessness has offered a story of stealing a pair of shoes whilst living on the street.

What I am after is a few paragraphs (definitely.no more than an A4 page) that give a short sense of

What your shoes say about you? (Who you are, what you’ve done and why)

How are your shoes a symbol of your belief and your journey toward “sacred space” or “holy ground”? (eg. Moses or following Jesus)

You may or may not have a dramatic shoe story but the whole idea of the stories is to capture a sense of difference. Whilst I have asked some migrants, refugees and homeless people I am also really after some very average everyday Aussie suburban shoes/stories.

I am trying to finalise some stories by next Wednesday June 6th for State Youth Games but am keen to build a good collection for UNOH in August and beyond. Feel free to email me a story or contact me should you have any queries.

Much Grace and Peace

Marcus

PS. no stories but here is the blurb that i came up with.....

go_stand shoe shrine

and he told them to go…
and to take nothing with them except a walking staff…
no food, no cash, no extra clothes…
just the shoes upon their feet.

Mark 6:7-8
GO_STAND is about making a commitment to follow Jesus who leads us to the rough places, the unpopular places, to stand in solidarity with our poor brothers and sisters.

Responses

#1 Take time to read the shoe stories of others around the edge of the shoe shrine. Consider what it may mean for you to see the world (or God) from someone else’s perspective or to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

#2 You may wish to use the paper provided to write your own shoe story. Consider the questions:

What do your shoes say about you? (Who you are, what you’ve done and why…)

How are your shoes a symbol of your belief and your journey toward “sacred space” or “holy ground”?

You may wish to leave your shoes and the story with the other shoes at the edge of shoe shrine space (you can grab them again later if you need them!)

#3 “Moses, take off your shoes, you are standing upon holy ground.”

Take off your shoes and walk into the centre of the shoe shrine space. Take steps in the footprints that already exist and consider the journeys of others who have gone before you.

#4 When you get to the centre of the space kneel at the foot of the “burning bush”. The burning bush was the place where Moses was told to go_stand up for his enslaved people. He felt terrified and inadequate. Where is God calling you to go and stand? What feelings does this create within you?

#5 Take a candle and light it from the “burning bush” as a symbol of your call. As you walk with it out of the shrine space offer the darkness of your fears and inadequacies to Christ and ask for the light you need to take the next step.

#6 Place the candle in the sand tray. Take a go_stand pledge form and/or other information about ways you can go_stand at the info. table

www.myspace.com/go_stand