How does your shadow influence the world?

When you look at this photo, your mind instantly tells you you are looking at a cup. Right?

How do you know that? Why don’t we assume it’s just a lid? There are a couple of clear indicators. One, there’s a straw sticking up from the lid. That would be difficult to do if the lid wasn’t attached to a cup. Two, you can see the cup’s shadow.

I want to talk about the shadow—and influence.

One definition of influence is… the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something…

I believe we can say the shadow has an influence on its surroundings.

The shadow likely blocks some of the sun’s heat, so the small area within the shadow is likely just a little cooler than its sunlit surroundings. It darkens the surrounding concrete, giving it a different appearance than its surroundings. And, the shadow caught my attention enough for me to photograph it. Even though I took this photo years ago with no intention other than shooting interesting images, it still made me stop and do something.

Our lives should be like this shadow and its influence. And since I don’t want to rely solely on a cup for my life direction, let’s see what the Bible has to say.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, New American Standard Bible)

These verses are all about influence. Our influence on the world around us.

Jesus tells us through His words that we matter. How we live matters. Not only are we to have a strong belief, grounded in the Word, we are to share that belief through our lives, so that people may eventually glorify God.

How does your shadow influence the world?

Does your shadow cool the world around you? In these times of bitterness, strife, and anger over so many things, do you bring a relative calm so that we can relate to one another in a more Christ-like manner? His Spirit helps you show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (from Galatians 5:22).

Does your shadow have a different appearance than the world around it? God tells us to not imitate the ways of the world, but to be transformed by Him (from Romans 12:2).

Does your shadow catch the attention of others? Are you sharing the love of Christ in all you do? Jesus often talked to His disciples about love. Near the end of John 13, Jesus told His disciples this, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) If you have love for one another, you’ll catch their attention. They’ll know you follow Him.

I’d love to hear about times you’ve been influenced by someone’s shadow.