Standing in the Shadows

Stepping onto the stage she was terrified. Her preparations were complete. Rehearsal had gone as well as could be, yet . . . insecurities plagued her. "God, be my voice," she whispered as she picked up the mic. The music began and God's gift poured out.

The love and agony of longing flowed from her as she sang "I open myself to you, I open myself to you, Lord . . ." and God's love flowed through her. Music--warm, loving--the angst of the soul filled the air reaching out to touch each heart in the room and the longing for God--the longing for inclusion and acceptance touched each person there.

Stepping off the stage, she ducked her head as she returned to her seat. All the desire of her heart to honor God was laid bare. As the service concluded she found herself surrounded with well-wishers, hugs, and comments of amazement. They had known her for years--why had they not known she could sing.

Their praise filled her heart with joy and yet . . . there was sadness. Moving amongst those at the meeting, she returned to her normal role--a book seller. People came and went--seeking a gift, something for inspiration, wise words for a crisis, or a "how-to" guide. She helped them as best she could find what would speak to them, inspire them, or guide them through a hard place.

Along the way, she listened. As she listened she heard voiced hidden desires for service . . . for acceptance . . . to be seen for who they are rather that the mold into which they had been placed. She heard the heart desires they were too afraid or unable to express.

So often we stand in the shadows--unseen or simply overlooked. For some the shadows are a place of comfort . . . for others a place where they have been pushed. Each person has so many gifts and graces, yet we stop looking at the real person who may be shrouded in shadow and only see what is bright, shiny, and obvious in front of us. It is more comfortable to use the same person over and over--they are the known quantity--rather than take risk or do the hard work of discovery.

You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts--limbs, organs, cells--but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain--his Spirit--where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves--labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free--are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. (1 Corinthian 12:12-13 The Message)

Sometimes people are hidden in the shadows--waiting for an opportunity to serve. Other times, people are thrust into the shadows--eclipsed by those who had always done . . . or egos who refuse to recognized the value--the gifts and graces of God in others. Our job . . . is to look for the light of God's love--even in the shadows.

Gracious God, we so often overlook the gifts and graces you have given others--sometimes because we are blinded by the light, while other times because we don't take the time to see what is right in front of us--we forget to peer into the shadows. Open our eyes so that we may see the gifts and graces waiting for us within each person. Help us to coax your gifts out of the shadows so that the light of your love may be seen through everyone. So be it. Amen.