Shadow and coolness

by Elouise

Monday of Holy Week. Here’s a poem I first discovered in a small Dohnavur songbook, Wings, published by Dohnavur Fellowship for its members. It’s from Amy Carmichael. Mom had this songbook in her music collection. I can’t help connecting these words with Holy Week. My comments follow.

I Follow Thee

Shadow and coolness, Lord,
Art Thou to me;
Cloud of my soul, lead on,
I follow Thee.
What though the hot winds blow,
Fierce heat beats up below?
Fountains of water flow—
Praise, praise to Thee.

Clearness and glory, Lord,
Art Thou to me;
Light of my soul, lead on,
I follow Thee.
All through the moonless night,
Making its darkness bright,
Thou art my Heavenly Light—
Praise, praise to Thee.

Shadow and shine art Thou,
Dear Lord, to me;
Pillar of cloud and fire,
I follow Thee.
What though the way is long,
In Thee my heart is strong,
Thou are my joy, my song—
Praise, praise to Thee.

Amy Carmichael, Mountain Breezes: The Collected Poems of Amy Carmichael, p. 70; © 1999, The Dohnavur Fellowship, published by Christian Literature Crusade. First published in Edges of His Ways (1955), Made in the Pans (1917), Pans (prior to 1917), Rose From Brier (1933), Wings, with music (1960)

Amy arrived in India on 9 November 1895. She didn’t leave until she died 55 years later, on 18 January 1951. She wrote the poem above before 1917, relatively early in her work with at-risk girls. Everyone working with Amy in South India understood extreme heat, and the unspeakable value of shadows.

In Edges of His Ways, Amy notes that the Bible wasn’t written in England. If it had been, “…there would not have been so many words about the comfort a shadow can be.” Amy writes from the burning heat of South India. Because of this, she’s drawn to Scripture verses about the ‘shadow of the Almighty,’ or the ‘shadow of God’s hand.’

Shadows are also a sign of darkness and even death, as in ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’ Here, however, shadows offer refuge from hot winds and fierce heat. Though dark and moonless at night, shadows offer space to discern invisible ‘Heavenly Light.’ They also contain clouds and fire—a strange combination that both cools and leads the way.

The history of Israel being led out of slavery is clearly alluded to throughout the poem. This brings to mind Jesus traversing the distance between life and death. Making a way to lead us from bondage to ourselves, to others, and to our small views of God. He’s experiencing everything life and death have to offer him.

Now he’s out there by himself, approaching death. Leading the way and making the way all at the same time. Experiencing the heat and darkness of the valley of the shadow of death.

He’s not a magical figure floating along above it all, but a human being. Feeling the extreme heat, the dryness of drought, the sting of tears on his face, anguish of heart, and the pain of being distanced and deserted by his hand-picked disciples.

Follow him. Witness him creating a cooling shadow for us so that we can go through our valleys and cross our deserts. And so that we can abide within ‘the shadow of the Almighty,’ come what may.

Telling the Truth