Shade-Shadow

It’s fall…autumn. The hottest days of summer are past and we’ve had a cool stretch of weather. Yesterday, though, it was hot for a few hours and reminded me of my thoughts on those hottest days.

In our  yard, there are one or two trees that cast a shadow over the gravel road that winds between buildings. Walking across the yard on a hot day, they offer a brief respite from the heat. I find myself wanting to just sit down in the shade of that tree. There’s a coolness under its poplar branches that causes my steps to slow as I walk. Even if it’s for a brief moment(in case I’m walking quickly), just the mental relief from the heat is enough to lift the burden.

As you know by now, I love word studies, but this morning as I jot these notes, there’ll be no detailed definitions.  (to the relief of some…). However, it’s easy to see that the words ‘shade’ and ‘shadow’ are related. So many times, as in the rest of life, one may be able to see both negative and positive meanings or uses for words. Obviously, they are used to be either kind or hurtful, etc.

Shadows often bring a negative connotation…linked with other words such as, lurking, sinister or dark alleys.  On the other hand, there is shadow play, as in hand shadows on a bedroom wall at night as sleep is around the corner or shadow tag outside on a sunny day with a young child.

Shade brings more positive thoughts…an umbrella on a beach for protection from too much sun,  a tree in the garden casting relief on that area of work in the afternoon heat, even standing in the shade of a building against the glare of hot sun, while contemplating direction.

Biblically, I think of the fellow God sent a vine to provide shade for. Then when he complained about his circumstance, a worm came along and ate the vine…oops! We must be grateful for the respite we receive, whether it’s physical shade or mental relief from discomfort.

God is good…all the time. Often, we just need to be able to recognize his goodness. Look for the good…the shade in shadows…the relief amongst the negatives. It’s there. It simply depends on mindset. Not that we are able to change the negative by willing it, but to be able to see the good that can come out of a bad situation.

May you find a shady tree on a hot day.