Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Gò0dNews for Men

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

by David Adams

The Joe South song goes: “Just walk a mile in my shoes Before you abuse, criticize and accuse Then walk a mile in my shoes.”

Prejudice—what does it really feel like? A lot of people in America today do not really know what it feels like to “walk a mile in my shoes.” I am a white guy, born to a middle-class family in the Pacific

Northwest. I never really knew what prejudice felt like until I moved to New Zealand.

I am a radio broadcaster with forty-three years of experience and was hired in Nelson, New Zealand, to be the sole employee of Sunny FM. It was my job to be the DJ, sell advertising, and manage the station. There was only one problem—I was an American and not a kiwi, the term used for New Zealanders. I visited every single business in Nelson, New Zealand, and not a single one would spend a dime on advertising. Finally, an owner of a sports shop took pity on me and took me aside. He said, “You seem like a good bloke, so let me tell you what the problem is. You have a better presentation than the other radio station, but you are an American and there is nothing you can do to change that. You will find that not a single person in town will buy your advertising. I’m just trying to save you the trouble and tell you what is going on.” Wow, prejudice rears its head. I can understand wanting to support the local businesses, but I had never felt prejudice like that before. The words “… there is nothing you can do to change that” rang in my head. Wow. So that is what it feels like—the injustice, the judgement, and the indifference. Jesus promises to love everyone and to advocate for the homeless and disenfranchised. He is the father to the fatherless. If we do anything for the “least of these” it is as if we are doing it to Christ. I think if we all spent some time as the “least of these,” we may have more compassion because sometimes we are the “other guy.” Walk a mile in those shoes.

About The Author

David Adams served as a pastor for two years in Bend, Oregon. Adams is licensed through Christian Global Outreach Ministries. Adams is working on several outreaches, including, The Jesus Network, USA Heartbeat, Operation Eagles Wings, and Back the Blue Radio. Adams has lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for more than two years and plans on staying in the south.