Life is full of light and shadow; oh, the joy and oh, the sorrow.
And yet will He bring dark to light; and yet will He bring day from night.
When the shadows follow us, we will not fear; we will remember.
When darkness falls on us, we will not fear; we will remember.
When all seems lost; we’re thrown and we’re tossed;
We remember the cost; we’re resting in the shadow of the cross.
–Shadows, The David Crowder Band
This was the introduction of a friend’s Christmas letter. I’m not sure if I have heard this song, but I was struck by the words. They are so very simple yet so powerful. It has indeed been a year of sorrow and joy for all of us. Yes, all of us. I don’t think you can live on this earth with only one or the other. They come with living. They are a packaged deal.
Life is a dichotomy. There is a time to mourn and a time to dance. There is a time to turn out the light and a time to wake with the dawn. The tide comes in and goes out, and its boundaries are understood only by the one who ordered their discipline. As you read this post today, you may be full of joy and blessings with family and friends around, but you may be fighting the shadows of sorrow shaped by loneliness or grief. (Perhaps you are experiencing joy and sorrow depending upon the moment.) I’m not sure where you are today, but I want to remind you that this too will pass. Be thankful for the joy and know that the sorrow will not be forever. Christ has come!
When the shadows of grief threaten to darken my heart, and I begin to miss my sister, I remember the good times, and I speak my thanks to the one who gave me my happy memories. Somehow the thanks disperses the lurking shadows. When my heart is full of joy and my blessing cup runs over, I must give thanks to the One who gave me such joy. It is good to be able to laugh again despite my heartache.
We must remember, God is the author of the light and the darkness. For without the light, there would be no shadows. And without the darkness, we would not appreciate the light. For now, we must have both.
The last line of the verse above says, “We remember the cost; we’re resting in the shadow of the cross.” Oh may we not forget the cost of the birth of God’s son. His birth cost His death. We believe in something much bigger than ourselves! Despite our sorrows we must step into the light of hope, the light of faith, the light of love. We are foreigners on this spinney thing called earth. Don’t forget.
Much love and Merry Christmas!
andy
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:4).
