Standing in the Shadows or Walking in the Light?
I think we all know what’s coming up at the end of this week. That’s right, Friday is Groundhog Day, one of the silliest but also one of the more charming days of the year.
Pity the poor groundhog. Yanked out of a hole before dawn on a frigid morning so that a foolish group of men in top hats can speculate about whether Punxsutawney Phil sees six more weeks of winter or an immediate leap into spring.
The deciding factor is whether or not Phil sees his shadow. My question is, how do they know? Does he whisper in their ears, or does he communicate his conclusion by blinking his eyes?
It really doesn’t matter because it’s all in good fun, and it gives a nice boost to the economy of Central Pennsylvania. But it also raises a question about shadows.
Does our life cast a shadow, or does it provide light? The Gospel of Matthew (5:14-16) encourages us to provide light with this well-known passage, which tells us that we “are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
We have been given the great gift of being able to reflect the light of the Lord for others to see, so we are called on not to lurk in the shadows but to walk in the light so that others might see and believe.