How to be a Winged-Boot Fitter

This article was written for the Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices Website http://www.ecfvp.org/

In Lent 2004 I had a vision during a meditation and wrote down a story entitled “In Boots Behold God” that told of Jesus giving me a pair of winged-boots and instructing me to “go fit boots!” Since this story emerged I have come to see my vocation as being the winged-boot fitter, who helps others to make spirited and rooted next steps in their lives and organizations. At least that is what I try to do. I now describe myself in my bio as “A communication messenger for the religious, as an appreciator of the story of Hermes and the story of Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet” and that I am a “winged-boot fitter for monks.”

How to be a Winged-Boot Fitter
I ask:

1. Where do you want to go? What is your vision? Please take a blank sheet of paper and put it under your foot and draw of outline of your foot. This can be done in a restaurant with napkin. This can be done with the shoe on or off.
2. Where are you stuck? Take the foot outline and fill in everything that is stuck in your work or life. Please take another blank sheet and draw round your other foot.
3. What is one step out of stuckness? Reflect, mediate, pray and then write down what get you moving towards your vision.

What I have learned from using this exercise is that it takes people out their heads and makes them, in some way, think with their whole body. It allows people to surface major issues that stop their whole progress or their organization’s progress. What I have also found is that what people are desperate for is “One step out of stuckness.” They do not need comprehensive answers, brilliant ideas, and other people’s examples. They want their own “One step out of stuckness.” They want to be fitted with their own pair of winged boots.