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Sometimes in life we take for granted the moments we get to live in the sun. The times we get to feel the victory of a win. We take advantage of a healthy body by loading it down with fat, sugar and greasy food. Sometimes we struggle to live in the spotlight so much in our daily lives, that we forget some of our best days and memories in life are during the struggles and shadows. 

I ran into a lady friend recently, that had only a few short days to live. I had a lay-over in her city and decided to stop in and see her. She was frail but still trying her best to be a gracious host. I helped her to the table to eat a spoonful of vitamins mixed with a bite of mashed potatoes. This was all she could eat for a couple of days. I felt so sad for my friend as she held my hand and told me how much she was going to miss my smile and phone calls. We laughed till we hurt. We sat up watching reruns of ER all night. Later that night I had awakened by the presence of a person standing over me.

I asked,  "What is wrong?"

She said, "I don't sleep - for I don't wanna miss one more sunrise, one more morning bird chirping. I will soon never feel again."

And I asked her again, "Why are you standing over me?"

What she said made my heart nearly stop.

She said," I wanted to make a shadow one more time. I wanted to see my shadow to know I was still alive. I wanted to give my shadow to you, to watch over you, shelter you, and keep you."

She said, "I hear people constantly saying - 'I lived in their shadow.' I want you to live in mine - so that when I die you will not forget me. Every time you see your shadow remember a part of me. For I will never see a shadow again."

I took her hand and held her while her frail little body cried. As I prepared to leave that day her daughter had arrived to take care of her. I hugged my friend and smiled at her daughter and said, "I will make shadows for you until I die."

As I left, I began thinking of the daily grind in my life to put artist out of the shadows and into the light. Somedays I get physically and spiritually worn out, trying to keep God in the front of that I do for myself, my artist and my family. I know it's like a 4 alarm fire around my office all the time. I love what God has allowed me to do. I love taking a new artist and charting them for the first time, or booking one of my artist on their first big show, or helping them land a cool magazine story. But, as the fame grows, so does the need to feed.

Need to feed? With every step you take an artist, you must think of the miles behind you. The relationship has to stay positive and healthy or you will find yourself way down the road with the artist and no ride back home. No matter the artist, country, gospel, speaker, actor or pastor - they become accustomed to excitement and rise. And the saddest part for me, is when they peak and you cant take them any further.

I think the sky is the limit in gospel. But, in secular the ceiling is not far from the first # 1. I am saying all of this because of my friend. She was tops in the entertainment world. And now she must die. She must let go. And no matter how many books she wrote, shows she stared in, she allowed life to eat at her soul and body. She allowed the rollercoaster of fame and disappointments to drain her immune system until she couldn't even fight off her disease.

As I help my artist achieve their goals and dreams, I also want to help them climb the mountain, take breaks, enjoy being in the shade, take care of themselves, let their dreams keep them not kill them.

So, in your daily life, live in the shadows more. Take a break. Enjoy your success. If it be raising a good child, cleaning your entire house, or taking over your musical dreams, stop and be thankful. Slow down and heal. Let your religion revive you.

As I close this column, my friend is still alive. She is not speaking, walking or able to move. I am sure many of you will hear shortly of some wonderful lady, God ushered into his arms. And you can remember at that time to smile, for the next time you see your shadow,  you will remember her and know you are still alive.
 
Rick Hendrix
http://www.rickhendrix.com

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