If you didn’t know, the shadow people are among us. No, this is not the title of an upcoming Syfy movie. I coined the term years ago to describe my wife. Since then, as I mentioned it when teaching, I discovered many shadow people exist in the church. In fact, they attend church faithfully, may sing in the choir, teach a children’s class, and seldom cause problems. So why call them shadow people? Shadows exists everywhere light shines, but we almost never notice them. They appear in the background. Like a shadow, shadow people blend into the surroundings and go unnoticed.
In order to understand this term, note the opposite end of this spectrum. We all encounter individuals who enter a room and by the time, they make their first three steps through the door, everyone takes note of their presence. They command attention. The military uses the phrase ‘command presence’ to describe someone whose demeanor demands attention and respect. Specialists write books and conduct seminars on how to become a leader who commands presence. A shadow person is the exact opposite.
For years, I have observed my wife enter various functions such as a church banquet, walk through the clusters of people chitchatting with each other, find a seat at a table, and sit waiting for me to join her, but no one greets her or asks if they could join her. She seems like a shadow blending in the background that no one sees. I observed this so often I began using the term shadow person. You might be asking if I’m saying something is wrong with my wife and others who fit this description. Absolutely not! For her and others, being quiet and not seeking attention is their normal personality.
After becoming aware of shadow people, I began looking for them and was surprised how many fit this category. Through the years, I also realized they are often the best workers in a ministry. They unassumingly carry out the task they have been assigned. It has been said “the squeaky wheel get all the attention.” Yet, have you ever asked why a wheel squeaks? Because something is wrong and needs attention—mechanical wear, lack of grease, or defective product. That’s not to say all outgoing people are defective. Leaders often command attention but people falsely assume this as a necessary criterion for one’s success. Certain high-level leadership positions do require individuals who command attention. The problem arises when this becomes the standard for all people thus making a shadow person feel inferior. Even worse is when shadow people try forcing themselves to become outgoing.
God calls and gifts certain individuals who thrive in a secondary role or as an associate—associate pastor, associate professor, vice president, etc. Contented in the background, they quietly support the primary leader bolstering him or her in their leadership function. Western culture stresses that success means rising to the top of the corporate ladder. Pastor often struggle in finding an associate pastor they can trust, someone who is satisfied in the background supporting them as senior pastor and having no ambition of becoming the senior pastor.
Shadow people can grapple with feelings of inferiority believing something must be wrong with them. “Why does no one ever notice me?” “Do they even know I am there?” “I work hard, but I don’t think anybody appreciates what I do.” These are a few of the statements my wife has made to me. However, note the most important fact—God takes note. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints (Heb 6:10). Jesus took note of a poor widow who came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent (Mar 12:42). This woman would not have commanded attention entering the temple. I doubt a single religious leader knew her name or that she even existed. She would never be invited to an appreciate banquet of the leaders and rulers. By the world’s standards, she was inferior. Yet, she received God’s attention.
You might be among the group I call shadow people and feel inferior and unnoticed. However, you must keep in mind that you aren’t living according to man’s criteria. God does not evaluate you by how people react when you enter a room. He gauges how faithful you are to His Word and the place of minister He has given you. Without my shadow person wife supporting me from the background, I would not be sitting here writing this or have preached and taught in numerous countries, or assisted low income Bible Colleges.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Leaders, if you want a faithful worker, look in the shadows. If you are a shadow person, keep doing the ministry God assigned you. He is taking note.