Shoe Cam At BOB & IMLA 2024

You can tell a lot about a person by what they wear on their feet. Shoes protect our feet, cushion our body weight, and allow us to play sports safely. There are all types of shoes: closed-toed shoes, open-toed shoes, sandals, boots, and sneakers, to name a few. And then there are the heels… Perhaps this writer is obsessed with high-heeled shoes because she can’t wear them anymore. Running on concrete when I was in the Army left little to no cartilage in my knees, making wearing heels painful. Enter Shoe Cam. The idea came from the now-defunct Wendy Williams Show. Wendy, who suffers from lymphedema, can no longer wear high heels. When a guest came and sat on her couch, she would first have the cameraman put the camera on the guest’s shoes. Once the Shoe Cam became popular, guests would wear their fanciest, highest heels possible.

While the Board of Bishops/IMLA Conference was not a show, all and sundry will show up in their most impressive attire. And while some women wear church hats, Zion women rock shoes. Not just any shoes. Leather, Suede, or canvas. Sparkly, Studded, or striped, the shoes are always on point. Take Presiding Elder Sharon Browning, for instance. You will likely see her picture if you look up “hostess with the mostest” in the dictionary. She was moving almost at the speed of sound. She was doing everything from answering questions to moving furniture, and she could do that, at least in part, because she had on the most adorable, sparkling slip-on sneakers.

High-heeled shoes can be uncomfortable sometimes, especially if you have a lot of walking or standing to do and they are pointy in the toes. Please believe that these resourceful Zion women were well prepared. Have you ever looked under a pew during a packed church service? People would probably think you’re weird, so don’t do that. If you did, you would see that in those super huge purses, a pair of flats or comfortable shoes is sometimes hidden. Don’t get it twisted; comfortable shoes can be pretty, too. I saw a pair of sneakers with a gold buckle that were especially fetching.

It is not about the shoes alone. The shoes are part of a larger aesthetic. It is about the entire look. This includes pantyhose. They merge the concept of the whole outfit. Sequins, textures, and colored patterns adorn the hose as well. The accessories, the outfit, the shoes, and the hair are all part of the statement that a Zion Woman is making. And trust me, she is making a statement. She is letting the world know that she is committed to the things of God and the church. She is letting the world know that she does things with excellence. She is adorned with grace and wisdom. She is clothed in strength and dignity. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Ps. 31:30 ESV).