Faith

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We rise in the morning, we eat, we work, we play, we eat, we sleep, and we rise again. We inhale and take a deep breath and move into another day of life, and then one unexpected day the shadows come. Moving along the ground before us like frightening marrionettes, the shadows of life sometimes bring sorrow through the loss of a loved one, sometimes they bring anger or frustration through weakened relationships with friends or family, and sometimes, quite unexpectedly, the shadows pull us in a little deeper still, and cause us to face our own mortality and the realization that what matters most is how close we stay to God and how much we love or give to others for God.

When faced with a potentially life-threatening illness, life becomes viewed through different eyes that suddenly look out on the world and the people in it with starker vision. Suddenly traffic jams are nothing, long lines at the supermarkets are a cake walk, and the whining of a tired child become the sweetest music when there is the very real possibility of never experiencing these things ever again. Suddenly, it's less important to be right about everything and win silly arguments with a spouse, when faced with the threat of fewer chances to reach out and hold them, smell them, look into their eyes, laugh with them. Suddenly there is a greater urgency to express love rather than anger or frustration. Suddenly, the Bible that sat on the shelf more often than not becomes a lifeline to God and of utmost importance for survival, as it should have been all along. Then suddenly, as quickly as they drew us in, the shadows lift and we are left on the path of life drawing deep breaths and listening to the pounding of our hearts. Standing with weak and trembling knees, we are left on the path a profoundly changed and stronger person.

As frightening as the trials of life can be, one thing is very clear. Trials are as important for the growth of the soul of a Christian as breath is for the life of the body. If all we experienced were happiness and light, there would be no need or incentive to draw closer to God's side where we should be. Were we always healthy of mind and body, we would have no need of healing and would be less able to be a witness to the remarkable power of God to heal and to restore life.

Every day is a gift from God and every trial a blessing that expresses God's great and unfathomable love for us and His desire to commune with us and to be needed by us. The veil between Heaven and earth is very thin. Every day we wake to breathe is one more day that God has blessed us with to use for good instead of ill. It is one more opportunity to love, to give unselfishly of our time and selves, and to treat others how they should be treated, with mercy and forgiveness rather than with anger and resentment. Little irritations and worries are washed away in the face of mortality and replaced with things that are real and important.


In life, the shadows are sure to come. But we are not alone with them. God is in midst of the shadows with us. His love is great enough to push us into them for our own good and His Grace is great enough to bring us back out a different person with a testimony of faith.

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