Living in the Shadow

These are unprecedented times. Every day the news outlets report the latest numbers of dead or infected. Our communities are terrified and polarized. We are living in the shadow of death. The Psalmist said, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Some days I do better at pushing back against the fear than others. But I feel like I already have some experience living under this shadow. When you watch someone you love die young, it changes your view. It rips away the facade that long life is a right and expectation. I fully expected that Dale and I would follow in our parents footsteps and someday celebrate our golden wedding anniversary. That is not how our story ended.

But there is value to this shadow if you have eyes to see it. Shadows have been used for centuries to tell the time using a sundial. This shadow helps remind us of how short our time here really is. The reality is that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Crazy things happen every day. I recently hit a huge raccoon while driving on a country highway. It did plenty of damage to my little car, but at least I walked away unhurt. If that had been a deer, the story might have a different ending. It was another great wake up call for me of the fragility of life.

So living in the shadow means viewing every day as a gift from God, even the ones that are lonely or mundane. Living in the shadow creates an urgency, that creates focus, that spurs us to action. What would you do if you were only given six months to live? How would that change your family dynamics? How would you prioritize your time? What trip would you take? What book would you write? It is that very urgency in me that birthed this blog. I didn’t want the faith lessons that I gained through Dale’s disease to die with me.

So I encourage you to take steps that you have put off to the elusive “someday”. Make the phone call. Mend the relationship. Plan the trip. Create the art. Write the book. Savor the moments with your family and friends. Time is ticking.