Casting a Long Shadow

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV).

The idiom of “casting a long shadow” has often been used to describe influence. Something or someone that casts a long shadow has considerable influence on other people or events. This is certainly the kernel of truth that Jesus teaches in our reading today. I was reminded of this principle recently when I read an illustration of four preachers who were discussing the merits of various translations of the Bible. One liked the King James best because of its simple, beautiful English language. Another preferred the American Standard version because it is more literal and comes nearer the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another favored the New King James Version because of its up-to-date vocabulary. When the fourth preacher was asked his opinion, he replied, "I like my mother's translation best." The other three were a little puzzled. They were unaware that his mother had translated the Bible. "Yes, she did," he stated, "she translated the Bible into life. She lived what she read, and her translation was the most convincing one I ever saw." So, let’s examine the need for positive influence for a moment today. In the early days of the church, the Bible tells us that the apostle, Peter, had become such an influential, powerful man of God, that people would bring the sick on pallets and cots in the streets where he might pass by, hoping his shadow would fall over them and, hopefully, they would be healed. Such was the aura of greatness around that man. It causes me to remember that my shadow goes with me wherever we go; never falling on me, but on others. We’re rarely aware of where it falls. We all influence someone; parents influence kids, coaches influence players, teachers influence students. If we aren’t asking ourselves what kind of shadow we cast, we are missing an incredible part of our journey. I saw an episode of “Mountain Men” a few weeks ago where Eustace Conway had traveled miles in the mountains of East Tennessee to find just the right salt to cure the pork they had carefully spent the last few years raising on their mountain farm. He said, “Not just any salt will do.” Isn’t that what Jesus alludes to in calling us to be salt in life? Today, spend a little time looking inwardly to answer the question of what kind of shadow you are casting.