One is, I try to imagine what the historical situation might have been like. Weird to think about a culture where there were servants who would wash off your feet when you came into the house! I imagine the beat-up sandals, the smell of sweat and dust, how dirty the roads probably were. Here's Jesus telling his disciples that now he's going to wash their feet. Must have been a real Oh, my goodness! What in the world? moment for them
On another level I'm paying attention to, has it come around to my turn in the circle yet? OK, time to hold out my feet...I bet the person washing my feet feels self-conscious... I feel self-conscious doing this....smile, trade places, now I'm the one doing the washing....geez this is awkward...
And on the third level I'm thinking about how this awkwardness comes up over and over again, whenever people try to do helpful things for each other. A friend had a medical test done that might mean cancer-- should I call to see if she's gotten news? Or is it better to wait for her to call me? She might want some time to process the information. "I don't want to intrude..."
And, turning the tables, it often feels awkward to receive help too.
It's humbling, being on the giving or the receiving end.
pastorkeith wrote:Never had someone kick over a basin - that would be interesting
And that would symbolize...uh, let me see...the inadvertent comedy that comes from the interactions between...um...
) inside, then tenebrae in the evening 
