Shadows
There is not light without shadow , there is no happiness without pain…. I heard that once.
And I think we all know it to be true.
There have been a lot of shadows lately. Winter certainly has the longest shadows and this winter the shadows are long indeed.
We didn’t think we’d be into our 3rd year of a world-wide pandemic for one thing.
In the story of Peter Pan, Peter needs his shadow so much that it actually becomes a character. Our shadows show us that we exist.
Some folks see only shadow. And yes, these can be dark times.
But there is beauty there. For if we have a shadow then we have light! I find it worse when the days are grey and devoid of light.
Perhaps you have shadows of the past that haunt you. Let them go! Every single person has pain. Every. Single. Person.
Maybe your shadow is physical. Maybe yours is emotional. But we can be light to each other!
Max Lucado once said, ‘"One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the hope that their death is nothing to fear - you know, not that it has no fear in it, but the promise of scripture is that God will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death."
The ‘shadow of death’ . It’s all around us. All around me. My sister, Mary’s beloved dog, Codah, just died. My friend, George Tapley just died, and I have another friend, Bob, who will soon be heading to palliative care. But let’s try to let go of our fear of the shadows and always always remember to look to the light. It’s there. Ready to warm you and lead you in the right direction. Do not fall prey to the fears that keep you in the shadows.
Sophocles said, “"A human being is only breath and shadow." Life will be over too fast but there is SO much beauty to live for….despite our pain.
It’s the very beginning of this new year of 2022 and I’m going to do my best to not stand in my own light. My paintings have depth because of their shadows. I’m going to strive to find depth in my life. I’m going to strive to find beauty and joy and hope.
Let’s remember this Chinese proverb: "When the tree falls, the shadow flies."
