Carol's Corner

I grew up in the city and learned to take the bus across the city to kindergarten which was not in the school system at the time. My grandmother lived down that same street but too far for a little girl to walk. But the bus took me right to her place. I continued to ride the bus to church, to youth and later to university. Now, with how society has changed, I hate the thought of my teenage grandchildren riding the bus around the city. Maybe it is simply my fear of the shadows, the scary parts of life.

As a young girl coming home from girls’ club at church by bus, I hated if I missed the first stop I could get off at. Only one block later a second opportunity to get off the bus and walk home meant a walk of the same distance but a different route. This second option always seemed scarier to me. The shadows between street lights appeared deeper and more threatening. A park across the street had deeper shadows yet, cast by the tall trees. Tall trees lined both sides of the street in front of my home, their branches reaching together in the middle of the street. The street lights glow barely cut through the gloom of the late fall or winter evening because of the tangle of branches.

Shadows formed part of my route home. Nothing bad ever happened. Neighbours knew each other and watched out for the children of the community. Yet my imagination played tricks as the shadows danced in the beams of light.

Now I have grown up, moved around and lived in various communities. I have experienced times of light and shadow and the shadows still frighten me, especially the darkness of a tough time.

I have watched my children struggle with childhood injury, illness and growing pains both physical and emotional. I have wondered if I might really get my next breath when the asthma is at its worst and walk with my husband through a battle with cancer. There have been dark days, tear filled days and times of anger at the unfairness of life at that moment. But along with those hard memories come ones where I see God’s provision. Times He has provided someone to walk alongside and encourage, or answered prayer in an unexpected manner. The shadows of death and destruction, the shadows of hurt and frustration, and the shadows of uncertainty as we pray and long for a positive outcome, a ray of light and hope touch each one of us.

How has God brought a ray of sunshine into your shadows?