I learned a new word this week—one I’d never heard before but immediately recognized in my own life.
The word is sciamachy (pronounced sky-AH-mah-kee). It comes from an old Greek term meaning shadow fighting—swinging away at an opponent who isn’t even there.
Turns out, I’m pretty good at it.
I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit fighting imaginary battles in my head: replaying conversations that already happened, predicting disasters that never come, preparing speeches for arguments that never take place. Sometimes I win these fake fights; sometimes I lose. But either way—they’re not real.
And here’s the kicker: shadow fighting drains real energy. It keeps me from living the life God’s actually given me right here, right now.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” In other words—stop sparring with shadows.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
God calls us out of imaginary arenas and into the present moment—where His grace is actually flowing. The fight worth showing up for isn’t in your head; it’s the one that happens when you choose trust over fear, prayer over worry, and love over suspicion.
So this week, maybe you and I can both put down the shadow gloves. Let’s live in the reality God has given us, and trust Him with the rest.
peace,
Nick
The word is sciamachy (pronounced sky-AH-mah-kee). It comes from an old Greek term meaning shadow fighting—swinging away at an opponent who isn’t even there.
Turns out, I’m pretty good at it.
I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit fighting imaginary battles in my head: replaying conversations that already happened, predicting disasters that never come, preparing speeches for arguments that never take place. Sometimes I win these fake fights; sometimes I lose. But either way—they’re not real.
And here’s the kicker: shadow fighting drains real energy. It keeps me from living the life God’s actually given me right here, right now.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” In other words—stop sparring with shadows.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
God calls us out of imaginary arenas and into the present moment—where His grace is actually flowing. The fight worth showing up for isn’t in your head; it’s the one that happens when you choose trust over fear, prayer over worry, and love over suspicion.
So this week, maybe you and I can both put down the shadow gloves. Let’s live in the reality God has given us, and trust Him with the rest.
peace,
Nick