The month of October signals a transition to autumn. November nudges the clocks back and darkness falls just a little bit earlier. That means more than just pumpkin spice lattes and overtime hours for landscapers. When daylight savings time ends, we understand the importance of the sun. Autumn days are abbreviated. Farmers need the sun and base their schedule on it. Drivers brave the highways with greater confidence when visibility is at its peak. Beach umbrellas follow the sun at the perfect slant to offer a reprieve from scorching heat waves. Weary travelers have always used the sun as a point of reference when caught without a compass in hand. Everything in our entire solar system revolves around the sun!
C.S. Lewis aptly 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." Deep darkness places a greater demand on the light. Without occasional bouts of darkness, how would we ever appreciate the contrast of sunrise? In a world of pervasive darkness, we are children of the light, and that reality shifts the ratio in our favor. Our job is to reflect THE SON. Anne Frank spoke with clarity: “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” At the intersection of light and darkness, there is a shadow. Merriam-Webster defines "shadow" as: the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light.
Barraged by bad news of sickness, political upheaval, recession, and war, it may be tempting to retreat into our dark "caves". Emotional burnout and compassion fatigue are a clear and present danger, and we need a plan of action. Yet this is equally true--when we live in the shadow of fear, we lose the reality of the light. A good friend, Mike Shreve, recently posed a thought-provoking question online (when discussing Old Testament feasts and the foreshadowing of Christ's arrival). "Would you rather embrace the shadow or the substance?" It would be a tragedy to settle for less than the full brilliance of God's plan and yet, like the timid groundhog, we often base our lives on the shadow rather than the reality!
Friend, the shadows do not predict the cycles and you are not stuck in a time loop (Full disclosure: I never really liked that movie) but the rising sun beckons you to come out and enjoy a new season. Instead of denying the dark season, we can seek out the light of God's Word with intention and the illumination WILL OVERPOWER THE SHADOW. The enemy wants us to fear a protracted season of darkness instead of anticipating a new season with brilliant hope! We can overcome learned helplessness and muscle memory. You may even feel apprehensive about Halloween, but fear is a liar! You are a steward of the light. The winds of change are blowing; open up the windows and turn your face toward THE SON!
James 1:17-18 (AMP)
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
Very uplifting! Beautifully written! God bless you!