Wearing Squeaky Shoes

Pastor’s Column

Ascension Sunday, 2026

Seeing things in our lives beyond the three dimensions that are natural to us takes

practice. When I was in the seminary we were periodically asked to lector in the abbey

church on Sunday. No problem, I thought: I have done this for years. Perhaps I was

overconfident, but who knew what disasters awaited? We seminarians sat a long way from

the ambo, and in between our seats and that podium was a very long row of Monks on both

sides, watching and listening! I began to walk the gauntlet that fated Sunday morning. And

then the worst possible thing happened.

It was horrible. It was ugly. It was embarrassing. Everyone talked about it. What was

the problem? Squeaky shoes: horrible, new, squeaky shoes, echoing in the silence and

perfect acoustics of the abbey on that long walk. Brrrack! Brracck! Finally, I made it up there

and delivered the reading. Ah, but now we confronted problem number two: how to get

back? I think I must have looked like twinkle-toes, walking like a ballet dancer in a vain

attempt to stifle a repeat concert of squeaks.

When it was over I was so mad at God (Why? He didn’t do this to me!). Looking back

at it, the moment, and the embarrassment passed: I grew in humility; the world did not

come to an end. To me, this was a humiliating disaster. From God’s perspective, it was a

learning experience. And no one remembers this but me anyway.

I know that is a trivial incident in the grand scheme of things, but don’t we all find

ourselves in situations wearing the equivalent of squeaky shoes, when it seems like everyone

is looking severely upon all we do? God wants to shine the light of his perspective on

everything. If you are in a squeaky shoes situation at the moment, is there another point of

view? Not by looking up at the clouds; not by looking down. Don’t look up! Don’t look down!

Look to Jesus. We invite Jesus and his Holy Spirit, whom he promised us, to the table, and

the church and her guidance that he promised to be with us until the end of time.

People see Jesus every day. They just don’t recognize him. This is because we are not

allowing the Holy Spirit to inform our choices and our vision; but if we use his glasses, we

can see beyond the three dimensions of everyday existence and God will begin to show us

the connections and solutions to our problems, the reasons we suffer and what to do about

it. He didn’t ascend to abandon us, but so that he could give us his heavenly vision from “up

there.” But we see this by living our lives as Christ wishes them to be lived.

Do I invite the Holy Spirit into my decisions, my problems? He is waiting to give you a

new perspective on everything. Don’t look up! Don’t look down! Instead, look to Jesus and

his Church, and he will guide you to see your problems and challenges in a new way. He will

give you his divine perspective on squeaky shoes and everything else.

Father Gary