More Than A Shadow Dancer

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

You were not made to be hidden in the shadows.

You were not made to stay locked inside of yourself.

You were not made to live in fear.

You are the light of the world.

You were built on a hill.

You cannot be hidden.

I have believed the lie for most of my life that the shadows are where I belong. I may believe in Jesus, but the things I have done and the way I have treated people is more deserving of a shadow dancer life than in the spot light. I was the woman at the well. I stayed on the outskirts clothed in shame, the example of what not to do and who not to be.

But Jesus. Those are my favorite words. But Jesus.

Jesus was there. Waiting at the well. Seeking refuge from his enemies, and bringing refuge to a girl like me. A girl like you.

She lived a life that was whispered about. A life that had her coming in the heat of the day to get water, because she knew no one would be at the well to bother her. But not that day. There was someone waiting for her. Someone she had heard about, but she didn’t know He had arrived, or that 

He was about to talk to her.

He was thirsty. 

“Give me a drink.” Is truly a great conversation starter, but it was not the beginning of Jesus thoughts towards her. 

A Jew speaking to a Samaritan. A man to a woman. A Samaritan speaking to a Jew. A woman to a man. There was a lot about their encounter that was scandalous to the culture they lived in. But, Jesus  does not see those distractions. The party lines. He sees her. He sees me. He sees you.

There is a lot that is scandalous about her, and even more about Him. 

She was thirsty. She engaged with Jesus. She had nothing to lose. Her reputation in her community was already “trashed”. She knew the customs, but she didn’t care. She engaged with a man who knew everything she had ever done, but was still giving her living water. She through it was a way out of going to the well every day, instead she got forgiveness and freedom from her sin. 

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in the scandal of God’s grace and love towards you. Living in the light of the one who separated the light from the darkness, who paved the way through His life and sacrifice is his gift to you. Jesus who knows we are thirsty, has given us living water through His blood. 

You may not know Him, but He is waiting and ready to know you.

You may be sitting on the brave he made you to be, but He is ready for you to move.

You may be afraid, but God is with you. 

You were made to be seen, to reflect the light of Christ, to stand firm and never be shoved away. Even when you feel like the shadows is a better home for you, the light is where you will always be found, and where you will find rest from all your doubts and burdens. 

Life in the light.

No longer hidden.

No longer tied to reputation.

Sealed in living water.

Eternal life. 

Jesus said, ‘Everyone who drink from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life. 

John 4:13-14

- Hannah