Emerging from the shadow

Shadows are longest in the early morning. As the sun rises they get shorter.

Photo by Rendiansyah Nugroho on Unsplash

Shadows are longest in the early morning. As the sun rises they get shorter. That may explain why it takes me a couple of hours to feel fully alive these mornings. It is as if I am a ‘shadow human’. In the dark, the shadow is foremost but as daylight comes the shadow begins to disappear giving way to the human.

I begin to see how this idea of being of two natures has been around in stories such as Mermaids and Vampires.

Yesterday in ‘Meeting for Worship’ a friend shared how in listening to a radio interview with a psychologist they were reminded to find reasons to be grateful. The psychologist had said that being grateful improves our wellbeing something which is perhaps strained with the current pandemic. This opened the way for another to share how even in difficult times they had felt the support of ‘community’ as people responded.

In between the vocal expressions, silence held us. After a time another shared how much identification is reliant on a photo of us. The question was asked what does a photo really say about who we are? Taking it further what about us tells another who we are?

Another drew hope from the sun breaking through the dark clouds as they looked out their window.

The last vocal was of one sharing writings from John of the Cross drawing not from the clouds but the insights of another as they went through ‘a dark night’.

There are no interruptions in silent Quaker meetings which develops within us a ‘deep listening’. When you know you are not required to give a response it creates freedom to ‘just’ listen and deeply.

After the meeting, I did think and in that sense, there is a response. I thought the voice of one speaking in a silent meeting is an expression of who the person is. They know no one will respond they also know that before they speak they need to do an inner check to ensure it is not out of the ego. I believe that brings authenticity.

It also tells me at the start of a new day that beneath the shadow there is a human coming to the surface drawn out by the light.

Best day,

g