Just A Closer Walk And Run With Thee During Holy Week

With Holy Week upon us, I recalled in the past when I had received a call from a secretary of a church I had attended with the invitation to be one of the 12 folks to get their feet washed by the pastor on Holy Thursday!

At first, I declined, since I had done this once before and wanted to give someone else the chance ... and teased my caller that "I'd have to cut my toenails better and make sure that my socks don't have holes in them!"  

But the caller insisted that I go ahead and join the dozen, so I did. I just may have to call my De La Salle High School buddy podiatrist, Marshall Baer, DPM, for a consult beforehand!

On a serious side, back in the 90s, I was humbled by this experience at St. George Church in Baton Rouge when Father Tom Ranzino was our pastor.

All 12 of us selected had to go up by the altar and sit in chairs facing the congregation while Father Tom and a deacon performed the ritual.

I and fellow parishioner, Rudi Lanehart, held hands when Father Tom came by, and we cried after some nervous energy of smiling, as we noted how poignant this reenactment experience had humbled and enlightened us so much!

Good Friday – Passover for my beloved Jewish comrades, whom my feet have also climbed up with at times to be a "Fiddler On The Roof!" – will be a solemn day to recall what God has "footed" for us all. I'll also recall how Moses was once told by God to "remove your sandals from your feet ... for this is holy gound!"

On Holy Saturday, I'll be "peddling it" in New Orleans for the Crescent City Classic (CCC) 10 K and running with the “Black Women Run New Orleans” team to help to promote health, fitness, wellness, community and sisterhood! ... so that they can take a "closer walk and run" with you and me!

On Easter, my feet will join the holy women of Jerusalem at the empty tomb as they rejoiced and ran to tell others the "Good News" of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Lastly, I will join the two disciples in a heartfelt promenade (and run) with the resurrected Lord on the Road to Emmaus (CCC in New Orleans) ...  just as the did when they came to know Him in the breaking of the bread ...

Passover and Easter Blessings to all!

Horcasitas, a licensed clinic social worker, is founder/owner of Prayer Care LLC in Baton Rouge.