SHADOWS

The mind can really see so much in the shadows. One’s imagination can fill it with both good and bad.

It doesn’t always have to be bad either. Sometimes the dark place also carry truths. And it is amazing how people associate the dark with evil.

Considering half of life is spent in night, it would be a shame to see it all as bad. Yet, fear often comes in such situations.

For what we don’t know will gnaw at us. And sometimes if the past brought some pain in the not knowing we will be even worse in our fear.

However, life does have to embrace both parts of our existence. And to let God show us what is positive in our shadows.

Some will always feel it a trip they don’t wish to make. To be in a position to just ignore them as much as possible.

It is sort of like one thinking living at church would keep bad thoughts out of the head. As if being in that climate would truly prevent anyone from sinning.

When I was a teenager I used to go to Winter Camp with my church group. It was in the mountains.

Surrounding by all those pines and getting away from the city did help with the inspiration. So for two days you felt close to God and it could at times be very moving.

And often they would have this time when people could make spiritual decisions in their lives. Such things as accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, rededicating ones life or making some special vow of commitment.

But when we came down off the mountain things never stayed spiritual. You still had to go back and face your demons.

Oh there was a period when you had the afterglow. Periods of quiet and calm. They just never lasted.

That is when the true test came. That is when reality slipped onto to your life and you had to accept still being a sinner.

How you coped often dependent on if you accepted that personal shadows don’t die. They just come back in different forms.

Accepting this by faith is often the greatest struggle. That is when we find the light there God intended.