Footprints and shadows

Two uncontrollable fascinations of my childhood were to watch the footprints and shadows of mine and others. These two things continue to amaze me still. In fact, I had watched innumerable number of times my wet footsteps dry slowly on a cement floor. I had erased many footprints of others on sand to imprint mine.




Some well known facts are contradicting and complementing each other…

1) Both footprints and shadows are related to our body.

2) Footprints can be preserved whereas shadows cannot be.

3) Footprints can be seen only when we move away whereas shadows cannot be separated from us.

4) A shadow is dependent on light to gain a shape and size whereas a footprint is dependent on the object for its shape and size.

5) Footprints require a medium like sand for expression whereas shadows are freaks in this aspect.

We can go on and on…

Many times, I’d asked myself why God has surrounded us with different interesting concepts like these.



Whenever I see a lame walking with a stick or crutches, I would immediately look at their shadows and footprints. Undoubtedly both of them reflect his/her physical disability.

While the physical disabilities are expressed so vividly and perfectly by nature whether we want them or not, like them or not, need them or not, there is no one way to see the inner disabilities of minds.

However, one cannot continue to hide his inherent negative tendencies for long. They come out one day or other one by one…

When I become targets of such negativities, I need to identify the limping shadows but not to leave footprints in my heart permanently.

Most importantly, I must learn to grow inwardly to experience a life of love and peace from my own shadows and footprints. After all, I have one life in hand, isn’t it?

Picture coutesy : Google search