Walking to Paradise

I had a friend who was a failed Jesuit. At some point in seminary, he became a bit too unhinged, and he had to leave. However, the seminary experience continued to be a persuasive but perverted influence on his life.
Here is an example: In Mathew, there is a text that runs: “And if thy foot offends thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life than having two feet to be cast into hell…” Well, he proclaimed, the feet carry you into sin. Therefore, foot care was essential to the life of piety. Godly feet, Godly behavior. Our other failed cleric in the Folkie crash-pad we inhabited, the Monk, would dispute these theological points with my friend over beers at the Harvard Gardens. Several times a week, the two would dispute off-beat theology until the rest of us at the table shouted for them to shut up.

For years, I rarely considered this foot philosophy until my long-suffering, flat feet started seriously complaining at about age sixty. These days, my feet won’t carry me to sin or to the grocery store without orthotics in special shoes. Other aspects of my friend’s footcare regime have recently come to mind: footbaths, pedicures, etc.
My feet are among the oldest functioning things I own, and their care has started to be a priority. But recently, I’ve started wondering if, while coping with aching feet, I am becoming more pius.

Godly Feet, Godly behavior…I’m too young to give up sin!

Daily writing prompt

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

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