Shadows

We are fortunate enough to have plenty of beautiful hardwoods in our yard.  For a few days each fall, we are blessed with a vibrant display of reds, yellows, oranges, even purples and pinks.  It also means that our yard is dotted with tall gray poles that have nary a leaf all winter.  Some well placed shadows joined hands with those trees to play a nice little trick on me the other day.

I was sitting on the loveseat, looking out the back door.  There was a birdhopping along the trunk of a tree, giving the occasionally peck as he traversed the length of the trunk, going up and down.  Interestingly, there was another bird on an adjacent mirroring his actions.  I've seen two males act this way before, fighting over territory or a female.  There was a larger tree behind the two these birds were occupying.  Suddenly, one bird flew to the larger tree and the other bird joined him.  The birds were face to face.  For several seconds they stayed in this posture then returned to their original trees.

After witnessing this "dance" a few more times, my amazement died.  I realized that the second bird and its tree were only the shadow of the first, being cast onto the trunk of the much larger tree.  

Shadows have a way of concealing reality from us.  Things which rather not be discovered hide in shadows.  Our vision can be hampered by shadows, hiding the real truth from us.  That's why it is so important to walk in the light of Christ when on a faith journey.  Darkness will try to hide his face.  Darkness will strive to lead us astray.  The shadows can even begin to look appealing if we let them.  To quote DC Talk, I'm gonna choose to walk in the light.