OUT TO PASTOR: Who is shadowing me?

I’ve been bouncing back after a health hiatus and thought I was doing well. I still have some coughs and sneezes, but they are slowly diminishing.

The other day, I had to get some gas for my vehicle. When I got to the gas station, I didn’t know if I needed to go to the bank and get a loan for my gas. 

Prices are ridiculous. When I first got my license, gas was $0.29 a gallon.

When I left that morning, I noticed a shadow on my left side as I was driving. I looked to the left, and saw nothing. I was sure there was something there because of the shadow.

Throughout the day, there was a scary shadow on my left side that I couldn’t identify.

I didn’t know if somebody was following me and if they were – why?

Of course, thinking the way I do, it could be an angel following me to make sure I got back home safe.

When I got home, I told The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage that I believed an angel was shadowing me to make sure I didn’t get hurt.

She just looked at me, laughed and said, “What angel would waste his time with you?”

Without thinking, I responded, “Well, you did.”

She looked at me with one of “those stares” and I realized I’d said that phrase out loud. That’s my problem. I can’t keep such phrases in my head.

Throughout the rest of the day, I had this shadow to the left of me. No matter where I went, there was this shadow. I could never make it out, I could never see it, and I didn’t know what it was.

After a while, something like this can work on your nerves. I didn’t know what was wrong. 

Throughout the day, I went about very carefully, not knowing who was shadowing me. I got very frustrated with this, not realizing what in the world was going on.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage suggested that maybe it was old age catching up with me. Then, she laughed as she walked away.

I had a lot of places to go and was quite frustrated with this thing shadowing me.

Then, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage asked if I could go to Publix and pick up some groceries she needed for the day. Of course, I agreed and got ready to go.

Shadowing me as I walked to my vehicle was this “thing” that had been shadowing me all day. I was trying to think of how to eliminate this nonsense.

Maybe, just maybe, if I sneaked over to Publix and got an Apple Fritter, I’d be able to solve this problem I was having. At least it was an excuse to get an Apple Fritter.

I got my Apple Fritter and sat on a bench outside to eat it. That lousy shadow was with me while I was eating. I was very cautious because I didn’t want that shadow to get a bite of my Apple Fritter. That would have spelled tragedy in the worst sense of the word.

As I took the last bite of the Apple Fritter, I turned to my left to find that person shadowing me, and there was nobody there. I was getting frustrated. Something had to be done.

On my way home, that shadow was still on my left side. I don’t know how that shadow could be there and not be seen.

I had one final stop before I went home. I was going to get a haircut because it was that time of the month.

I went in and was seated. My barber got everything ready and then looked at me and said, “How’d you get that little bit of peanut butter on your glasses?”

What? 

I removed my glasses, and sure enough, there was a little peanut butter spot on my left lens. I was a little excited because I’d finally found my shadower.

He laughed, and I joined in the laughter, but underneath, I was as frustrated as I’ve ever been. All day long, this little bit of peanut butter had been shadowing me, and I had not noticed it until now.

When I got home, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage greeted me and asked me a simple question. “Have you been shadowed this afternoon?”

I had to tell her, so I revealed that I had a little speck of peanut butter on my left lens.

She laughed and said, “I saw that this morning and wondered how soon it would be before you realized what it really was.”

While I was pondering my blunder for the day and shadows, I was reminded of a verse in the Bible. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

To be associated with THIS shadow is the most important thing in the world. To know that I’m under the care of God gives me the courage to walk in faith. If I’m under that shadow, I’m where God wants me to be and where God can use me for His purpose.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone is (352) 216-3025, e-mail is jamessnyder51@gmail.com, and website is www.jamessnyderministries.com