EPIPHANY ON A MOUNTAIN TOP

Rev. Wayne Evans

Charlotte knew better than to say “yes,” but she accepted the invitation anyway to go backpacking with the adult Sunday school class to Colorado. The trip was an annual tradition for the Sojourners Class. Charlotte Brent was the Director of Christian Education at St. Luke’s in Shreveport. She was at least 15 years older than the members of the class and had never liked to “rough-it,” but she heard how much the hardy souls who went enjoyed the camaraderie. She decided to go with them that year. She bought hiking boots and went for long walks in them everyday to “break” them in and to increase her stamina.

Hiking with a full backpack was not easy, and each day got more challenging as they climbed higher and higher. On the day they were to reach the peak Charlotte grew wearier with each passing hour. A friend offered to carry her gear, as they continued their climb. She swallowed her pride, and agreed. So for the final hour or two of ascent to the peak she could only put one foot in front of the other, and pull herself up. A couple of her fellow hikers lagged behind the others to accompany her.

When Charlotte finally arrived at the top, she was pleased to see someone had built a campfire. She sat down on a log to catch her breath. A friend brought her a cup of hot tea. As she savored the warmth of the brew, another friend removed her boots and began to massage her weary feet with cream. Her aching arches relaxed as if the other woman’s hands were absorbing all the pain and hurt of the day. No one had touched her feet with such tenderness since her mother had bathed her as a child over fifty years before. She felt such gratefulness that someone cared enough to bathe her feet.

In her mind she reflected this must have been what it was like for Jesus to wash Peter’s feet. She felt humbled that she who had been serving these members as their Christian educator, was now being served by them. She realized she could not have made the journey alone. She really needed them.

She understood why Jesus commanded us to wash feet. We show love best not with our words, but when we humble ourselves to serve another. We wash feet to remind ourselves and to remind one another that Christ gives himself to us as we serve. Go and do likewise.

A few years after this incident Charlotte returned to seminary to earn a M.Div., and become an elder until her death in 2000. She told this story in a sermon in 1992.