by Rev. Don Schatz

A Strange Season.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Colossians 2:17, New International Version

The recent solar eclipse was quite an event.  We were fortunate to have the correct glasses to view the eclipse.  However, we still enjoyed the shadows that were cast through the tree canopy onto the asphalt parking lot.

Our family is experiencing a stranger season of shadows these days.  It is not the shadow-representation of heavenly glories, but the darkness cast by shadows, which would seemingly desire to steal the light.  The light of hope, of life, and of faith.

There are all kinds of uses for the shadow metaphor, it turns out.  The eclipse shadows were the evidence of something very real.  The shadow of darkness is evidence of the darkness trying to masquerade as the light of reality.  True reality, as Paul wrote to the Colossians so long ago, is found in Christ, and Christ is nothing if he is not sheer life.

When shadow-seasons overtake us, it is sometimes a struggle to see the light, and to hold onto the truth of the reality that is Christ.  Faith apprehends the truth, and we turn in faith to faith to believe, to receive hope, and sometimes to simply hang on.

If you are in a similar time of shadows look to Christ, the Light of the world.  He makes life real, because he is life.  He makes hope real, because he is our hope.  He makes every shadow’s effect dissipate, burning off in the brilliant light of the Son.  Our family is finding anew the wonder of Christ’s presence, and his power to dispel the darkness, even the darkness of the shadow of desperate illness.

Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the world: Lord Jesus Christ, reality enfleshed in your very person, shine on us all today.  Shine through us onto the whole world we touch today.  May the light of your love dispel every shadow.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO