Casting Long Shadows

As I walked by the book shelf a few days ago, a biography of George Muller called attention to itself in such a way I pulled it out for another read.  It was said of Muller who lived in 19th century England that he believed and prayed.  Without asking anyone but God for funds, he opened orphanages and cared for children and the poor of Bristol.  Seeing his biography caused me to think of others such as John Wesley, Francis Asbury, Hudson Taylor, E. Stanley Jones, Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, and Dwight L. Moody.   

 

It was a moment for remembering these saints who have cast long shadows over several centuries.  It was also a moment of wondering if there were any out there today who will be remembered in the centuries still to come as saints who cast long shadows.  When I tried to stretch my mind to find some of today's saints who might be remembered past their time, I had trouble coming up with a list.  Maybe it is the nature of such spiritual giants that they labor invisible to their peers and are only seen in retrospect. I would like to think such is the case.  

 

I can think of some spiritual leaders who because of media have attained celebrity status and others who often stand in the spotlight of religious speaking circuits, but I wonder how long their shadows will stretch.  It could be that my vision is limited.  Maybe I am looking in the wrong places.  Maybe I am wearing regional or denominational blinders.  If you see some spiritual giants out there among us who will surely be remembered in the distant centuries, take a moment and share their names for those of us who are having trouble seeing them.