A Recent Article in the Ocean Springs Gazette
Turn on the radio of late and you are likely to hear Taylor Swift singing “Shake It Off.” Swift dedicates the song to her detractors. She says you cannot control what other people say or do, you can only control your own reaction. Swift admonishes us not to let what others do or say “get under our skin,” but rather we should “shake it off.” That phrase, “shake it off” is evocative. The phrase is reminiscent of one of the admonitions of Jesus: “...shake the dust off your feet.” British theologian John Oman called this admonition of Jesus "The Forgotten Sacrament.” When Jesus sent his disciples out on mission, he said “When people refuse to welcome you and the gospel you preach, refuse to offer hospitality, shake the dust off your feet.” Shake the dust off your feet and move on. Jesus knew his disciples would face rejection and failure. We run into our own limitations and the limitations of others. We do our be...