I know Groundhog’s Day was yesterday but hey, who said that we can’t talk about it today on February 3rd?

Well, I did think about it yesterday but I quickly forgot because only one newscaster talked about it on the news.

Groundhog’s Day is a day of celebration where groundhog comes out of its burrow (hole) and looks for its shadow. If it is sunny and groundhog sees its shadow, it retreats back to its hole knowing that winter is going to stay longer at least for another six weeks. If the weather is cloudy and the groundhog doesn’t see its shadow, it will come out of its hole and enjoy itself; because it knows that spring is around the corner (remember the light groundhog is looking for is a  light which creates no shadow.)

Do I love to hear about groundhog’s leaving its hole? You bet I do because I want spring to come, and winter to go away! Some newscasters, bless their heart, bring good news saying, “Groundhog has been seen coming out of its hole and staying outside enjoying itself.” Hooray!

Well, I wish that was the news yesterday. Regarding 2015 winter, here is the news: Winter is going to stay with us at least for another six weeks. Who guessed it? Groundhog!

I am sure you know that I’m not here to talk about the Groundhog’s Day. No, I’m not but that doesn’t mean that I don’t care about Groundhogs Day. I do especially when the news is good. But I am here to talk about something better – regarding the patter of the shadow a groundhog is following after to stay in or out of its hole; relating that pattern to our personal Christian life.

The Bible says, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

Shadow shows that there is an area of the body where the sun can’t reach at. Oh, who can avoid shadow unless we come to a place where the sun can get to every part of our body? But where is that place? It is a place where “the sun” can be on the top and at the center of our head!

Yes, God wants to be on the top and at the center of our life so that we live in the light. God desires for us to live a life without a shadow because having a shadow shows that the forecast of our future life is not good.

But it is hard for anyone to claim a life without a shadow, isn’t it?

But Jesus claimed that life (John 8:12)! In Him, we all can live a life that goes from one “sunny and bright chapter” to another where the shadow of our life, little by little, fades away from us (Matthew 5:14).

But one truth keeps coming to me and that truth is this: One of the ways we can make sure that we situate ourselves at a place where “the Son” is on the top and at the center of our life so that we live in the light is by surrounding ourselves by spiritual fathers in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:15-16); fathers whose life we imitate, father who rebuke us when we sin against the Word of God; fathers who are more spiritually matured than us; fathers we can go and confess our sins to; fathers whom we gave authority over our life; fathers who love us enough to stop us when we run as fast as we can to destroy our life; fathers who are not our friends and buddies but our fathers whom we fear and dread to stand in front of when we sin against God; fathers who fight for us and are quick to forgive and restore us lovingly when we mess up our lives.

Without them, oh, without them, woe to us; because when we miss the mark, the shadow will take over our life.

Do you have spiritual fathers? Do you have someone you can run to when you mess up your life? Yes, we all need spiritual fathers who are more mentally and spiritually matured than us.

Oh, my friend, the days are evil! Without spiritual fathers, we can’t put our life at a place where the Son can be on the top and at the center of our lives.

Yes, groundhog doesn’t need anyone to tell it whether its shadow follows it or not but you and I, oh, you and I, need spiritual fathers who say to us: “My child, there is shadow behind you; go back quick to your burrow until spring comes.”

But before our fathers speak to us, it is always good to pray like this: Oh, LORD when my spiritual fathers speak to me, have mercy on me so that I listen to them. ///

P. S. When I say spiritual fathers, I mean to say spiritual mentors who can be spiritual men and/or women.