Sunshine and Shadows
I saw a facebook post the other day. It said, “Come back Mr. Sun!!! We miss you
...” There are a lot of people missing the brightness and warmth of Mr. Sun
these days. It has been too overcast, especially when you consider that many in
the farming community have yet to complete their harvest.
John Denver may have had it right when he wrote “Sunshine on my shoulders makes
me happy ...” Studies show that sunlight increases serotonin levels and spurs
the creation of vitamin D, both of which could help in putting you in a happier
mood.
There is something else, however, about overcast days that I’d like to point
out. The shadows are practically gone. You just don’t see them.
When I was a youngster shadows were fun. You could dance with your shadow (and
not be embarrassed because your shadow was as poor a dancer as you). I
discovered that you could make animals on the wall with the shadows from your
hands. I created cats, dogs, and ferocious dinosaurs.
Do you remember, as a kid, looking out the car window and pretending that you
were racing the shadow that would move closer and farther, depending on the
distance to the other side of the ditch? Do you remember trying to step on
someone else’s shadow as you were walking together on a sidewalk?
David wrote “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children
of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 36:7). The idea
David was trying to convey here was that being close to God was a good thing.
Under His shadow meant that He was there to protect you, to make sure no harm
came to you. Being in God’s shadow is a safe place to be.
Here’s another thought. Being in the shadow of someone else generally means that
the other person is always seen first in everything. They are recognized first
and foremost. For the follower of Jesus this is actually a good thing is it not?
Peter and John were dragged before the Jewish council for a bit of an
interrogation. Those doing the questioning didn’t see Peter and John as much as
they saw “that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). They were in His shadow.
He was recognized first and foremost.
As we move through the fall season let’s hope, pray, for sunshine. And when you
see a shadow ask yourself if you are in God’s shadow. Are you close? Are you
giving Him first place? Are you trusting in Him? There is no safer place to be!