Magic Shoes

Growing up in England, as a child in the 1960’s, comic books were an important part of my life. My sister and I would receive our pocket money and walk to the local shop on a Saturday morning to buy our comics – she to purchase her weekly copy of “Bunty” whilst I bought “Princess Tina”.  These comics had ongoing serial stories which we enjoyed. Occasionally there was a “free gift” such as a plastic ring or faux pearl bracelet which was an added delight. Christmas gifts always included the annual for that year. Reading a multitude of genres was and still is a great joy in my life.

A story that has always stuck in my mind from those comics, (or an annual, I can’t remember which – perhaps someone reading this can identify?) concerned a pair of magical ballet shoes.

A young struggling ballerina is given a pair of magical ballet slippers which, when put on her feet, enable her to dance superbly. She quickly rises through the ranks to become a famous ballerina, performing on stage to tumultuous acclaim. However, in the process she becomes proud, and arrogant, and cruel to those assisting her. One evening she walks into her dressing room to prepare for her performance.

“Where are my shoes?” She asks her assistant.

“Those old things?” is the reply. “They were so tatty and worn, not fit for a fine ballerina like you. I threw them in the rubbish bin!”

The prima ballerina puts on another pair of shoes and proceeds on stage. To her horror she can only dance as well as she first did in the corps de ballet. She is booed away, her career finished.

“It was the shoes all along.” is her final lament.

The story concludes by telling the readers to keep their eyes open for a pair of tattered ballet shoes. If you find them, they will make you dance like an angel!

I’ve no idea who wrote that story, so I can’t give credit where it is due, but whoever did so, like the fairy tale writers of old, was obviously a gifted writer, using a simple story to demonstrate a profound truth. After forty years, the little girl who enjoyed it in a comic book is now a woman who still remembers it.

Those of us in Christian ministry don’t have a pair of magic ballet slippers. But we do have the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Parakletos, the One who comes alongside, the third form of the Trinity. It is God in us who empowers us to be His witnesses in this fallen world. We need to make sure we don’t start apportioning His publicity to our selves. The glory is His alone.

May you enjoy the dance.