Leaving Shadows

“The cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry,.. and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody…

“When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.  So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, ‘Why are your faces downcast today?’” Genesis 40:1-4,6-7

“Their speech and their deeds are against the Lord,
    defying his glorious presence.

For the look on their faces bears witness against them;..
    they do not hide it.” Isaiah 3:8-9

“In the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes.., I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.’” Nehemiah 2:1-2

“A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed…

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the bones.” Proverbs 15:13,30

“As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19

Clouds pock the calm ocean with their morning reflections, spilling the light of lofty grandeur below. Unreachable contours become places to touch and dip as they condescend to the here and now of the shore. Their message, be it fleeting beauty or turbulent storm, is offered to the wayfarer, the wonderer, the watching.

And so our lives and faces reflect the light of grace or gloom, revealing the state of our souls. We can radiate hope or hunger, peace or pain. God gives man expression to communicate, and we have a bearing on the message we portray. When we see the influence of both behavior and countenance, are we not compelled to be filled with God’s Spirit to convey the best and most glorious of His abiding presence?

What kind of shadows do we spread, and what do they reflect of our Lord? How often does unhealthy interest in or brooding hurt over a situation disrupt peace and stain our interactions with ugliness or angst? Simmering resentment and anger will give off steam or spill over, dampening or burning those near us and clouding their view of grace. Do we berate and complain and leave rude shadows of discontent, discomfort, or sadness wherever we go?

There is another kind of shadow we can leave when we’re absorbed in Christ. We can hover over the needy and infuse the atmosphere with hope. We can pray for the hurting and sprinkle contagious jewels of love and care. We can create or point out beauty in the Word or world. With what mark, what reflection of God’s compassion, splendor, and kindness, can we bless another today? How will we, by word or action, lift the countenance of those the Lord has put in our path?

Lord, fill my life with your light, that I would leave cloud shadows that gleam goodness, hope, and love every day of my life.