Towards the Sun

To my Sunflowers,

It’s not the first time I receive a song, just at the right time, with just the right message, to get me through a tough time.

This one, came to me through my children, as is frequently the case nowadays. They picked a favorite movie, and in it, I found this amazing song. And you need to read it to feel it.

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you
Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you

Lost in the rock and roll
Got lost in a promise of a love I’d never know (Ooh)
Shadows chased me far from home
I remember when my heart was filled with gold (Ooh)

And you know
I’ve been burned, I’ve been burned, I’ve been burned
You’ve seen me lose control
It’s not worth, it’s not worth, it’s not worth my soul

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you

Lost my faith and trust
You and I know gold don’t turn to rust (Ooh-ooh)
I still swear that we can reign
Like the kings and queens of better yesterdays (Ooh-ooh)

Don’t you know
I’ve been burned, I’ve been burned, I’ve been burned
You’ve seen me lose control
It’s not worth, it’s not worth, it’s not worth my soul

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you

Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna run to, when you get to the edge of the night?
Its time you face the sky, ooh

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you
Don’t look back, just carry on
And the shadows will never find you

Turn your face towards the sun
Let the shadows fall behind you

Here’s what it told me.

It’s so simple. Haven’t you ever felt the warm sun on your face? That way it instantly warms you, the way it shines through everything; even your eyelids can’t hide it? Well, obviously, when you focus on the light, when you keep your focus where the light is, you’ll find your shadow is behind you. And as long as you’re facing the sun, that’s where it will stay.

Shadows. Who’s afraid of their shadow? I’ll tell you what- I’m afraid of darkness that is shaped like me, darkness that comes out of me, and darkness that wants to swallow me. So, this resonated with me. Sometimes, we live in the shadows. Sometimes, we are the shadows. Let me tell you about some shadows that like to follow me.

Depression. Anxiety. Loneliness. Just for starters. And these shadows have been after me since I was little. It still takes me work to keep these shadows at bay.

Haters. And I’m not saying that in an attempt to be hip. I mean there are people who will follow you around, just to hate you. As unnerving as that is, there are people who will hate you without even knowing you. And there are some who will be willing to take this wickedness to unhealthy and dangerous heights, just to spite you. These people exist and can be some of the scariest shadows, especially when they don’t have a face. These shadows cannot be reckoned with. There is no pleasing them. Do not play with hateful people. They will spread their disease, and they will make you just like them, and that’s how they win. The best thing you can do is escape their grasp. The best revenge you can take on haters- live your happy life. And put them back in their place- tiny and insignificant- and more importantly, put them behind you.

Self-doubt. Or doubt in your relationship. I am a smart girl. And I can convince myself of anything. If I think there’s something funny going on, I can almost make it true. Because, after all, the “truth” is simply that which we are willing to accept. So, if I have my mind made up that someone is against me, everything they do will be viewed through that lens. And this shadow, it can swallow things whole. Doubt is as destructive as fire, it’s undetectable, it’s quick to work, and it can burn up everything you’ve ever worked for, destroyed by something so small as the seeds of doubt.

Our past. Reliving our worst moments causes us new pain. And living in the past can stunt your spiritual growth and taint anything new that you’re trying to build. Did you know that when you remember a stressful event, your body experiences it as if it were in the moment? There is no reason to keep punishing yourself for the past. We all make mistakes. Rehashing them does not make them go away. It’s best to focus on the lesson, and not the pain. Then, use that to move you forward somehow. Let it serve some good purpose. Even if that good purpose is never to go there again. That’s called establishing healthy boundaries, and it’s a good habit.

Hate. This shadow is deceptive because it looks like us, and it covers up uninspected traumas- resentment, fear, ignorance, loss, pain… Hate is the absence of God, just like darkness is the absence of light. Hate is punishing ourselves and expecting the other person to feel it. Hate is heavy. Hate is one of those things people can get caught up in, and its hold will pervade everything in your life. It’s toxic to the soul, and I think it is one of the few things that can unmake a spirit. This shadow casts itself over not just you, but everyone you come in contact with. It embeds itself in everything we say and do, and then, we can make the mistake of feeding it to our family. When there’s hate in your heart, you can’t hear God’s voice, and you can block your own blessings. That’s not what is meant for you. Remember, God is love. Do not let yourself hate. Those who do are playing with forces outside their control – ancient forces, old as sin itself. Do you think it’s easy to escape their grip?

My sisters, my friends- it came to me through a children’s movie. But it’s such a simple answer to so many real-life situations, so many shadows that run amok in our lives. So, I offer this advice. “Turn your face toward the sun, and the shadows will never find you. Don’t look back, just carry on. And the shadows will never find you.”

Wow. That one set me free. Thank you, “Home,” and thank you, Rihanna.

Do you want to know who else turns their face towards the sun??? Sunflowers. And they do it everyday.