01/19/2026
I hadn't cried this song in years, so when it came on today, I really tapped in. How can goodbyes be relevant on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I have been contemplating. Well, Jesus Christ, whom MLK Jr. loved, gave some instruction around goodbyes, all in the name of loving nonviolence. Jesus told his Apostles, "Whoever will not receive you or listen to your wordsβgo outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet" (Matthew 10:14), "And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against themβ (Luke 9:5). Jesus gives his Apostles permission to set themselves apart, to protect their peace, and to uphold boundaries. It all sounds so simple, and I wonder how the Apostles really took this instruction.
Is it possible that shaking dust from feet may have been easier said than done? Could there have been real pain and heartbreak involved in these rejections and subsequent goodbyes? Did shaking dust from feet ever get easier? Were there times that the Apostles avoided or even prolonged the process of upholding boundaries? Did the Apostles have to dissociate from their emotions to fulfill Jesus's command? Was testimonying against other people a relieving, even enjoyable, service? If I had a chance to meet the Apostles, I would ask them everything. God, I don't want to be good at goodbyes.
Too Good At GoodbyesThe official 'Too Good At Goodbyes' music video.Get the latest news for Sam Smith: https://bio.to/SamSmithIDLyrics:You must think that Iβ...