Has anyone cast a shadow on your experience through an unkind word or hurtful deed? Well, we can’t control what other people do, but we can control what we do! We can pray to ensure that we don’t throw any shadows on other people’s path. How? By being a light.
A light never casts a shadow.
Notice this picture. There is no shadow cast by the flame. A flame of light cannot cast a shadow, for it radiates light.
Shadows are often symbolic for dark thoughts; anger, irritation, resentment, ill-will, suspicion, criticism, and fear. They are not innate to a child of God or part of a spiritually minded thinker’s way of thinking.
So, be a bright light in your neighbor’s experience. Don’t throw any shadows their way with less than inspired thinking. Illuminate their thought with your understanding of Love’s ever-present care and thoughtfulness. Brighten their path!
Be a light thrower not a shadow caster!
Thank you Evan! This is soooo thought provoking!
I also noticed the things that are casting the shadow in the picture are things that are “opaque” (i.e. the candlestick and the wick) . That realization caused me to search Mrs. Eddy’s writings for the word opaque and I found on page 242 of Science and Health this statement:
Self-love is more opaque than a solid body.
There is an online Webster’s dictionary from both 1913 and 1828 that I think might define words as they were used during the time Mrs. Eddy was writing S&H and this 1913 dictionary defines “self” as:
The individual as the object of his own reflective consciousness; the man viewed by his own cognition as the subject of all his mental phenomena, the agent in his own activities, the subject of his own feelings…
This definition of “self” is the exact opposite of the man/woman we learn of through Christian Science as being the reflection of God. I therefore concluded that when we love (embrace) the concept of ourselves as being the source of ideas, capabilities, health, feelings, etc., we are thinking opaquely. But when we instead recognize God as the source of all ideas, capabilities, health, feelings, etc., and that our job is to simply reflect God by holding and cherishing nothing but His ideas in our thinking, then we are thinking “clearly” and there will be nothing to block God’s goodness from being experienced in our lives.
The paragraph in S&H right above the sentence above from page 242 states this very clearly…
There is but one way to heaven, harmony….It is to know no other reality…than good, God and His reflection…
Some great ideas Brian. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this post! Food for thought this morning!
And thanks to Brian for his comments! Most helpful!
Wonderful thoughts to start the day!
Sarah 🙂
I add my thanks to Sarah’s. (Hi Sally! )
I’d been pondering how to rise above the concern that a strong-willed personality can exert authority over others, and intentionally or unintentionally stunt another’s growth or sense of self-worth — and this analogy of light is so helpful. As all are God’s reflection or expression of divine Light, there is no opaque quality to man’s true individuality to cast a shadow or belittle another. And as light cannot cast a shadow, neither can it perceive a shadow. To light all is light. As Evan (and Brian) bring out, we can reject shadow-casting thoughts or feelings. Mrs. Eddy speaks of man’s ability to be a transparency for divine light.
Brian, I have the dictionary you mention in book form at home, but would love to know how to access it on-line.
Hi Nancy…Here’s a link to the dictionary I mentioned.
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?action=search&word=&resource=Webster%27s&quicksearch=on
Thanks Evan, its very timely
Still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that photo!
Thanks for sharing it along with spiritual reminders 🙂
As a man 78 years old, I remember the Radio program of the 1940’s; THE SHADOW and his famous saying; “THE SHADOW KNOWS.” No evil thoughts could resist the Shadow’s knowledge. Evil could never cloud the Shadow’s knowing of evil and how to destroy that evil. Much like spiritual knowledge, evil could never be hidden.
Great post!! Thanks, Evan!!
Nancy- go to the App Store then go to search (often a magnifying glass icon) type in Websters 1913 and install! Easy, free, and so cool! Thanks, Brian!
Thanks, Evan, and all you Wonderful Reflectors of Light who contribute such inspiring comments! I had a wonderful experience early this morning when I woke up from a bad dream and started to “go down that road” and then stopped and asked God what was the Truth…….My thought was just flooded with ideas I have been studying in the C.S. Bible Lesson and in my reading of Science and Health! It was just amazing – I had no idea there was such a reservoir of healing ideas in my one and only Mind, God, Good!!! End of Dream Story and Into Reality! Hooray!!!!!
Thank you, Brian and Patty, for the dictionary info.
Patty, no results came up for Websters 1913 in the app store. Tried Webster’s, too, and dictionary 1913. Did find the on-line version from Brian’s link.
Thanks Brian…my world has just been expanded with the addition of Webster’s 1913 – 1828 Dictionary.