The Purpose of a Lighthouse

The Purpose of a Lighthouse

      The lighthouse has stood thorough out time as a pillar of safety and help to countless ships and their crews.  They originated as simple pillars lay on the shores to help guide ships. Through time, they became took on new dimensions and attributes such as lights and the foghorn. With the development of GPS, the lighthouse has become more a beacon of historical value than a necessity of safety.  There are still over a thousand functioning lighthouses in the United States alone.  Most of them are automated but the Coast Guard is entrusted with their maintenance and upkeep. 

      The lighthouse during its hay day was of great value mariners.  They were usually built from granite, wood or stone. They were a tower with a bright revolving light at its top.  They ranged in heights from 50 to 250 feet.   The lights have been reported to be seen as far as 25 miles out though planes have reported seeing the lights from a distance of 45 to 50 miles out.  To a ship on the open sea, it served two main purposes.  The first is as a navigational landmark that allows them to know their approximate location.  The second is to warn those same ships of impending dangerous areas such as  The shoreline and cliffs, sand bars, reefs, and other potential hazards that might damage a vessel.  Either purpose makes them an invaluable tool to sailors.

      Before the times of automation, men had to constantly man the lights filling them with oil and trimming their wicks.  The lens had to be cleaned and kept free of soot so the lights could be seen.  They tested the foghorns as well.  They were responsible for the reports of accidents at sea.  They kept the machinery well oiled and made sure the lights turned at certain rates so that the lights could be seen in all directions.  Today, many of them are still in use, especially in Michigan around the Great Lakes.  Though they are now mostly fully automated, they still serve the same purposes. 

      During times of bad weather and heavy fog, they are still of great value today.  The satellite signals are often distorted by weather conditions here on the earth. A prime example is your cable or dish television network.  We love them when they are working but the clouds roll in and the thunder claps, the signal then lags the picture stalls or becomes distorted.  The lights continue to turn.  While the visibility of the light may be diminished, the sound of the foghorn can be heard also.  It is still guiding those on the water to safety and warning of impending dangers.

      So  I am relatively certain that while you are mildly interested in my facts on light houses that you are probably wondering what my purpose for bring this up might be.  Well, I will share it with you.  Each of us is not unlike the lighthouse.  Our words and actions are like beacons that guide those around us to a safe haven or help them find their way on the journey of life. Like the light keepers of old, we are entrusted with the maintenance of the lights we send out. If we fail to clean our minds and keep the lens (our eyes) clear of debris then in truth the message we send will be clouded and less helpful even harmful to those around us.  Hate and negative are certainly part of that debris.  Many times in my past, I have preached the value of words.  Today is certainly no exception.  When you use words to harm another even just to express your opinion about something, you are guilty of neglecting the beacon you send out to the world.  In days of old, the keeper would have lost his position or been severely reprimanded for such callous behavior but today we are all going unchecked.

      Many of the lighthouse keepers had help.  Often that was their families or a relief staff.  Today, we can help each other be accountable for a more positive train of thought just by being a good friend, by listening in their time of need, by caring as much about others as we do for ourselves, or simply by accepting with tolerance the situations we do not understand. Not everyone loves the same way, but they are entitled to love nonetheless.  Not everyone shares the same background or religious beliefs, but they are free to see the world from their own vision just as you are.  Not everyone will make the same decision you do in any particular situation, but they are entitled to the right to make it.  Not everyone can take negative interaction and make it turn out positive; however, they have to find their own way through. That does not make one person’s way better than another’s only different.

      I am my brother’s keeper but I am not his judge. If I can help him to find his way then I entrusted to do that. If I am so busy being critical of how he does the job then in truth I am not doing mine very well.  I have fallen down because my part of the work is suffering.   How do I know that? Because no man is a rock and can go through life completely alone. We all need each other at some point.  I need the man that drives the truck that delivers the vegetables that I want to fix for dinner.  I need the woman that teaches first grade because she is leading the new generation to become productive adults.  I need to understand to understand why my Jewish friends’ faith so that I can be a better friend to her and a better host when she is in my home.   I need to work on understanding the Spanish man at the market because even though it is not my language, he is trying to communicate something to me so it must have value.  I need to love and respect my son and my friends that are homosexual because love is everything and I want them to love and respect me in return.

       I may be different. I may love differently. I may not agree or understand all the time.  I may have different needs and wants.  We may have conflicting opinions. Our lifestyles may contradict each other.   That is the nature of human beings. Nevertheless, like the lighthouse, my beacon has value. Its light will grace the world with hope.  Not everyone will need it and not everyone will heed its warnings, but someone will. I cannot change how they will view my thoughts or word. I cannot force anyone to accept my support. I cannot control the whole world.  I will not even bother to try. Some things are just outside the realm for me and I have to accept that. What I can do though is to try to be the best me I can be.  I can try to give love, caring, and aid.  I can be generous with my positive words and feelings.  I can give tolerance even when I am not shown any.  I can give thanks for the smallest of blessings even when they did not exactly my hopes.  I can stand tall with pride and even when I am not needed the way I was in my past I can continue to shine my light.

      The purpose of any light was comfort so if your light is filled with hate and condemnation then perhaps it is time for you to clean the lens or fill yourself with happiness.  Sometimes, all we need is to fill our tanks with something more positive, sometimes we need to replace the entire bulb (idea).  Sometimes we just need to trim the wick (change our way of looking at things). Sometimes we have to be less automated and more hands on.   If you are lost, then perhaps you need to start looking for the light. I challenge you today check your lighthouse. Do not be the cause of destruction but instead the ray of hope in the darkness and the storms.  The lighthouse is moving all about to save people.  It stays place and shines it's light brightly allowing everyone else to recognize their own destruction.