I have learned to be intrigued by the shadows of my life, Lord.
The stronger the light, the deeper the shadow.
I have come to realize there will always be shadows.
I must accept the shadows of my life as well as the light; they will just always be there.
And so I now  pause for a moment when a shadow greets me;
and take in its beauty.
Teach me to  stop and be confronted, to be changed,  by them.
This day, Lord, help me to realize what the shadows of my life can teach me
about You and Your great love for me.

Bob Traupman
priest / writer

Editors note:  This was my very first blog post on December 5, 2007.  I had two priests write me back and say: “Thank you, Bob.”

I pay a lot of attention to shadows in my photography.  When there’s interesting light, there’s also interestng shadow.  You can’t have one without the other.  I published this one the other day.

It’s “both / and.”

That’s the way life is.

Carl Jung in psychology got us to pay attention to the Shadow side of life.

If we deny it’s there, we’re in trouble.

If we embrace our Shadow, make friends with it,

we become whole.
With love,

Bob Traupman

priest / writer