The Shadows-on-the-Teche
One of Louisiana's most photographed plantation homes, The Shadows-on-the-Teche, was appropriately named for the long shadows cloaking its grounds. Constructed between 1831 and 1834 by sugar grower, David Weeks, The Shadows is thought to have been named by his granddaughter, Harriet Weeks, in the 1880s and 1890s ostensibly referring to the images cast by the large live oak trees that surrounded the home.
At the time of construction, The Shadows was one of only three brick structures in its area along the Bayou Teche near New Iberia. Unfortunately, David Weeks died before he could occupy his home. His widow, Mary, moved into the house with their large family and took over management of the property. Although she later remarried and lived in other parts of Louisiana, Mary eventually returned to The Shadows. She died there in her sleep in 1863 as Union troops occupied the home. David and Mary's great-grandson, William Weeks Hall, restored the home in the 1920s and bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A tour of The Shadows is, today, a highlight for visitors to Acadiana.
Shadows have long provided mystery and romantic inspiration. Long before Robert Louis Stevenson penned the familiar "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me" (about the same time Harriet Weeks named her home The Shadows), shadows were contemplated both in oral tradition and in literary works. Virgil, Homer, Shakespeare and Tennyson all utilized the image of the shadow in their writings, and many ancient proverbs speak of them as well.
The Bible is no exception. The writers of the New Testament used the word shadow to create a word picture to illustrate a specific point. In Colossians 2:17, for example, Paul speaks of Old Covenant regulations regarding diet, offerings and festivals as "a shadow of what is to come." Hebrews 8:5 reiterates the idea of the Old Testament law as a shadow, saying that the Jewish priests served "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things."
When we speak of a gigantic Louisiana oak tree, clearly the tree is a concrete object possessing mass. The shadow, while still real and visible, has no substance and is not tangible. It is only an image of the real tree caused by the inability of light to shine through the tree. A shadow is just the form of an object, not the real thing!
So when the Bible calls the Law a shadow of what is to come and a shadow of heavenly things, of what is the Law? A shadow? What's the "real thing"? What's the substance"?
Paul explains in Colossians 2-3. He tells the church of Colassae that Old Testament circumcision, required by the Law, was only a shadow of a greater truth. It foreshadowed an event that was to happen at the cross many years later. Circumcision, he said, pointed to the "removal" of the old sinful person at salvation. Our old man died with Jesus, was buried with Him and was raised with Him by the Father. The new man is alive with Jesus' resurrection life, and His life is the "real thing." The "substance," of which the Law was a shadow, is Christ!
The Law was meant to point us to the Savior; it was never meant to be a rule book for holy living. It has no life to impart. The substance of the Christian life is Jesus, and once we are in a relationship with Him, our relationship with the Law is over. Trying to do the right thing and avoid the wrong thing may seem spiritual, but it can't empower us to overcome our tendency to live independently from God. The principle of "right vs. wrong" is so inferior to the life of God! Only Jesus can live the Christian life and He wants to do it through us as we walk by faith in Him.
The apostle Paul would probably have agreed with the ancient proverb that says, "Turn your face to the sun, and the shadows fall behind you." Christians should leave the Law behind - Jesus did! Law won't give us victory.
Shakespeare wrote in The Merchant of Venice, "Some there be that shadows kiss; such have but a shadow's bliss." Let's not settle for a shadow when we can have the real thing - Jesus' very life lived in us and through us. God wants so much more for us than a regimen of rules and principles.
The builder of The Shadows, William Weeks Hall, once said, "Fine things are without value." That is certainly the case with Jesus - He is priceless!
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With appreciation to Pat Kahle, Director, for the photos.
Shadows-on-the-Teche, National Trust Historic Site
New Iberia, Louisiana
At the time of construction, The Shadows was one of only three brick structures in its area along the Bayou Teche near New Iberia. Unfortunately, David Weeks died before he could occupy his home. His widow, Mary, moved into the house with their large family and took over management of the property. Although she later remarried and lived in other parts of Louisiana, Mary eventually returned to The Shadows. She died there in her sleep in 1863 as Union troops occupied the home. David and Mary's great-grandson, William Weeks Hall, restored the home in the 1920s and bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A tour of The Shadows is, today, a highlight for visitors to Acadiana.
Shadows have long provided mystery and romantic inspiration. Long before Robert Louis Stevenson penned the familiar "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me" (about the same time Harriet Weeks named her home The Shadows), shadows were contemplated both in oral tradition and in literary works. Virgil, Homer, Shakespeare and Tennyson all utilized the image of the shadow in their writings, and many ancient proverbs speak of them as well.
The Bible is no exception. The writers of the New Testament used the word shadow to create a word picture to illustrate a specific point. In Colossians 2:17, for example, Paul speaks of Old Covenant regulations regarding diet, offerings and festivals as "a shadow of what is to come." Hebrews 8:5 reiterates the idea of the Old Testament law as a shadow, saying that the Jewish priests served "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things."
When we speak of a gigantic Louisiana oak tree, clearly the tree is a concrete object possessing mass. The shadow, while still real and visible, has no substance and is not tangible. It is only an image of the real tree caused by the inability of light to shine through the tree. A shadow is just the form of an object, not the real thing!
So when the Bible calls the Law a shadow of what is to come and a shadow of heavenly things, of what is the Law? A shadow? What's the "real thing"? What's the substance"?
The apostle Paul would probably have agreed with the ancient proverb that says, "Turn your face to the sun, and the shadows fall behind you." Christians should leave the Law behind - Jesus did! Law won't give us victory.
Shakespeare wrote in The Merchant of Venice, "Some there be that shadows kiss; such have but a shadow's bliss." Let's not settle for a shadow when we can have the real thing - Jesus' very life lived in us and through us. God wants so much more for us than a regimen of rules and principles.
The builder of The Shadows, William Weeks Hall, once said, "Fine things are without value." That is certainly the case with Jesus - He is priceless!
New Iberia, Louisiana