Shake the dust off YOUR feet

When Jesus sent out his disciples to share the Good news of Love and cure people's ills, he gave them specific instructions. His words:

"Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere." -Luke 9:3-6

One of several reasons that these guys were successful in healing is this: if people didn't accept them, they shook the dust off their OWN feet. What does that mean?

Throughout the Bible 'dust' represents the material, self-centered view of individuality and life. Instead of carrying away self-feelings -- self-justification, personal judgment, 'my' way or regret -- these dear disciples shook it off. They weren't focused on the other guy, but on the Big picture, on God, and they removed self-centered thinking as the ever-compassionate Jesus taught them. Being faithful to this teaching, they broke the dream of self-obsessed existence and reoriented all who were ready to accept it (including themselves) to Love-centered reality. We can follow in this Way. It's the only Way. Shake it off.