A few months ago, we went to a family reunion on the Oregon Coast. At the end of the reunion, we still had another week of vacation, so we headed south along the coast down to Cape Blanco State Park. Besides the fact that the campground was beautiful, sitting atop a bluff overlooking the ocean, we also were just a stone's throw away from Cape Blanco Lighthouse. The first night at the state park, we drove down to the overlook. The wind must have been blowing around 25-30 mph. Somehow, Kathleen was able to get this picture, in spite of the wind, just as the big Fresnel lens rotated around, shining its light right at us. The next day, we actually went on a tour inside the lighthouse and got to stand right next to that big lens, but more on that in my next post...
Like a lot of life situations, it caused my mind to start spinning on some of the spiritual parallels. Lighthouses were created to fill a need. In some areas, they warn of the danger of shallow waters or rocks. Other locations use them to guide boats and ships to the safety of a harbor or cove. When you face danger or uncertain times, to where do you look? When you do not know where to go or what to do, to whom do you turn for advice? Maybe you are like I was two years ago. I was relying on myself, my own intellect, my own abilities, my own reasoning to find what I was looking for or what I thought I needed. In reality, I needed to stop looking at myself and start looking at the Light.
John 1:4-5 say of Jesus: "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." You can spend all of your time looking in other directions, but all you will see is darkness. A lot of people are perfectly content with the darkness. It is what they know. It is familiar to them. But when the storms of life blow and unseen dangers lie ahead, darkness offers no help, no hope, no solace, no peace. What Jesus offers is so much more: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Are you looking to the Light? Can't you see it? Shining in the darkness?
- The Scribe
