For most of Day 194 of The Red Shoe Project, I could be found in RED heels, behind closed doors, at an all day hospital board retreat. As we all went around the room giving a quick introduction of ourselves, the chairman of the board asked,
"Are you still wearing
your RED shoes, Gail?"
"Of course,
I answered,
"It's day 194!"
Of course, I told him, "I'm sporting RED shoes everyday as a visual reminder to look for God." I even glanced down at my RUBY REDS and repositioned my left foot to show them off, kind of like how Dorothy did in the movie. Talk about catching someone off guard. I don't think he was expecting that particular answer . He didn't know how to respond. LOL.
I don't mind catching people off guard. And it's okay if they don't know what to say, or if they're just not interested. But I'm finding that many people are interested, and when they respond affirmatively, I ask them to friend me on facebook and follow The Red Shoe Project blog. Many do just that!
When the board meeting was finally over, my head was spinning. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. I found myself driving home in a little big of a fog. It was late afternoon, but it was a still quite beautiful outside. Instead of flopping in a chair, I decided to throw on my gym clothes and do my prayer walk. Off I went! I found it difficult to focus today. And right then, something popped in my mind.
I thought about how sometimes
I have to reset the JOY switch.
In Florida, I tend to keep our home comfortably cool during these hot summer months. The thermostat is set at 74 degrees. Every once in a while, the switch will flip. Slowly the temperature starts to rise. It doesn't take long for me to figure out what's happened. I go to the garage, open the circuit box and reset the switch back to "ON."
Have you ever caught yourself looking "blank" - expressionless - unresponsive? Every once in a while, I will catch myself like that. One time I noticed something interesting. When I'm "blank" I can tend to look angry. Well, perhaps that's too harsh. Let's just say, I don't look happy. When I don't look happy, people often jump to conclusions and assume that something's bothering me. Truth be told, I'm not mad at all. I'm not bothered. I'm not sad. I'm not anything. I'm nothing.
I don't like to be nothing. Nothing leans towards negative. I'd rather be something... something positive. Perhaps nothing reflects "empty." I don't want to be empty. I want to be full... full of something... full of something good. As I thought about that today, the song popped in my mind,
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where? Down in my heart.
Where? Down in my heart.
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Down in my heart to stay.
And I'm so happy, so very happy.
I've got the joy of Jesus in my heart.
And I'm so happy, so very happy.
I've got the joy of Jesus in my heart!
Yes I know that it sounds silly. It is a bit of a camp song, isn't it? But I did sing it... out loud for that matter. And there it was:
A big beautiful
SMILE
right on my face.
I really do that... sing songs. What can I say? I'm guilty. The words pop in my head, I remember the tune, and I just have to sing it. Sometimes I even clap. Then came another...
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart.
I will enter His courts with praise!
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad!
He has made me glad. He has made me glad.
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad, so glad.
He has made me glad. He has made me glad.
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad.
You know... just singing about: joy, rejoicing, and being glad, stirred up my "blank" spirit. Within seconds, my countenance began to shine as my heart filled up. My JOY switch has been reset. If it flips off again, I know right where to go to fix it.
In RED shoes,
Gail
