A few years ago, I was walking with my then 2 1/2-year-old grandson Gabriel when he made a discovery. For the first time, he noticed his shadow. And, he noticed that I had one too. With a glee and wonderment ever-present in childhood, he began to chase the shadow. What a joy it was for me to watch the delight and anticipation in his young eyes. Indeed, this was a special moment that I’ll never forget. Now, of course, his shadow had always been there. But he only saw it when the sun shined on him, just the right way.
As I considered Gabriel’s discovery, I was reminded that C.S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else too.” What a powerful insight! You see, Jesus is the “Son”-pun intended- who rose and shines brightly so that we can rest in the shadow of God’s love. Indeed, Psalm 57:1 says, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”
Alas, we struggle daily with the “disaster” of our sinful nature and the fallen nature of this world. But, Jesus Christ, the eternal light of the world, beckons us to rediscover and delight in his secure and abiding shadow. With the steadfast delight of my grandson Gabriel, let us never stop chasing. Amen!
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