Category: Lighthouse

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Legacy of Light

George and I have visited two decommissioned lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay. Both are in Maryland.

Turkey Point Light Station is part of Elk Neck State Park and can be toured each weekend. It’s no longer a light for those in the Bay, but it’s story of light is still told to all who care to hear.

Turkey Point Lighthouse taken by George in 2003

Hooper Strait Light is a screw-pile lighthouse and now part of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. It is no longer in the strait, but it’s story continues to be told.

Hooper Strait Lighthouse taken by George in 2004

These lights remind me our story will continue, even after we step into eternity, and have me wondering which stories will be told about me in years to come.

Will they be stories of light in the dark? Will they illuminate Jesus and encourage those listening to trust Him when it doesn’t make sense? Will the stories of my life create in the listeners a curiosity and desire to know the LORD for themselves?

Our days are numbered! We cannot get them back once they are gone. We cannot rewrite the story of those days already lived. We can only choose how we will live going forward.

“Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more.” Psalm 39:4 (TLB)

We will all leave a legacy. And our days in which to create our legacy are numbered. So, what legacy are we going to leave? I don’t want my legacy to be only the things of this world, but of lasting eternal value, as well. Every single one of us will one day step into eternity. What will we leave behind?

How about you? Is there someone who left a legacy of light for you? If so, please share something they said or did and how it helped you in the comments section below. We want to see the light of their legacy too!

Fun Facts: Four of the ten Turkey Point lightkeepers were women. Hooper Straight Light was moved by barge to St. Michaels, MD in 1966.

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Fog Horns

George was sent to Brunswick, Maine for several months back in 2005 while the USS Bainbridge was under construction at Bath Iron Works. I went up for a visit and we explored some of the area together.

One place we went was Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. Portland Head Light sits nearby the old fort and is a fully automated light station equipped with a foghorn.

Front view of Portland Head Light taken by George

The Portland Head Light Station uses an air-chime diaphragm horn. It only sounds when a vessel is in the channel. A laser beam is shot out to sea; if it bounces back, the horn will begin to sound continuously. The horn at Portland Head blows a four second warning, every twenty seconds, when vessels are present during foggy conditions. The interval and duration of each light’s fog horn sound is different, which is another way for sailors to identify where they are.

Fog limits visibility; it also muffles sound. Limited visibility can cause disorientation, panic, and danger. Muffled sound makes us unaware of our proximity to danger. When fog prevents visibility, the intermittent sound of a fog horn helps vessels navigate safely through the channel.

Something I find interesting about fog horns is they don’t just blast out any loud noise. The horns must emit a specific frequency for clarity and distance in foggy conditions.

All this has me thinking about the importance of both light and sound for safe navigation on the waters and in life.

Letting my light shine may not be enough. I may need to speak truth to those around me. In fact, Christ followers have been commissioned to do just that.

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 (NLT)

I can’t just be a blast of noise. Not all words penetrate the fog of circumstances that limit visibility and muffle the ears of our hearts. I must use the right frequency when speaking truth to others. I must speak in the frequency of God’s love.

“Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” Ephesians 4:29 (GNT)

I’m also reminded to surround myself with those who will do the same for me. I want to hear words of truth spoken with love during times of difficult circumstances; times when I’m unaware of my proximity to danger.

Side view of Portland Head Light taken by George

How about you? Has someone spoken a timely word into your life and helped you avoid unseen danger? If so, why not tell them? Who knows how timely your word of thanks will be for them?

Fun Facts: Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, was commissioned by President George Washington when Maine was still part of the colony of Massachusetts, and was the first lighthouse to be built by the United States Government. It was dedicated by the Marquis de Lafayette and was the inspiration for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Lighthouse.”

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Immoveable!

A lighthouse doesn’t move. It remains in one place at all times. That’s one of the reasons it is so helpful in navigation. It is a reference point for those navigating the local waters. Sailors cannot see hidden dangers beneath the surface, but remain confident they’re in the shipping lane. How? They know where the lighthouse is always located which allows them to take a “fix” and “plot” their location.

New Cape Henry Lighthouse taken from top of Old Cape Henry Lighthouse by George

The same is true of our LORD. He is immoveable! He doesn’t shift positions on us. We can count on Him remaining steadfast in times of trouble or uncertainty. We can be certain of His presence and know which way to move based on His position.

How do we find His position? Seek Him! He says,

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)

What are some of the ways God reveals Himself to us when we seek Him?

His written word, the Bible. It points us to Him and His ways.

Trustworthy Christ Followers. They share their experiences of God’s steadfast presence when they were faced with uncertainty or danger. They also prayerfully seek His direction on our behalf.

Holy Spirit. He’s always with us and is making petitions to the Father on our behalf. But are we talking to God about it or looking for out own way out?

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse taken by George

Sometimes I just need to be still long enough to acknowledge His presence. I need to cease and desist my own striving to find which way to go. Look for God. Allow Him to be my reference point. Stop leaning on my own understanding of where I am and what I’m facing.

How about you? Has there been a time in your past when you found your way to a place of safe harbor because you trusted the LORD’s position and didn’t go your own way? How has that experience enabled you to seek Him quicker in future times of uncertainty or trouble?

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Let Your Light Shine!

I’m still thinking about our lighthouse visit. Without the light, it’s just a house with a tower, and incapable of providing safe guidance into ports or through dangerous waters or weather.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14a (NASB)

Christ Followers are the light of Christ in this world. He puts us in a specific place at a specific time and equips us with everything needed to be light for those around us. He even gives us a resident light keeper, Holy Spirit, to ensure there’s fuel for our lamp and our lens is cleaned, sealed, and operational.

Jesus also said, “Let your light shine…” Matthew 5:16a (NASB)

Wow! The use of the word “let” tells me we can hinder the work of Holy Spirit in our lives and prevent our light from shining.

Our lives will shine bright for all to see if we cooperate with Holy Spirit. He is every Christian’s God-given Helper and He lives in us; available at all times to meet every need!

Paul wrote often about relationships and warned Christians not to grieve or quench the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30 & 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Am I hiding my light when…

I don’t live my life with others?

I act as if I have nothing to share with others?

I’m not transparent with others?

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)

How about you? Has someone been the light of Christ during a dark and/or stormy time in your life? Did your experience help you see the LORD differently? Has it changed the way you live?

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Lighthouse Views

I recently discovered George had never been in the St. Simons Island lighthouse. How could this be? He grew up right there on the island!

Right then and there, I made it my mission to take him to the lighthouse. It was a perfect July day! Blue skies, ocean breezes, and bearable humidity. We arrived early, watched a short documentary about the lighthouse, climbed all one hundred twenty-nine steps, explored the museum where the light keepers and their assistants lived, and took lots of pictures.

The galleries view was spectacular and extemely different than the view from below. It wasn’t long before I started pondering how much our point-of-view influences our trust in the LORD.

Galleries View

“My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB)

These are some of my favorite verses. It’s been many years since they first caught my attention and pressed me to take a more honest look at myself. Even now, I find almost all my struggles can be traced back to a lack of trust in God. Thankfully, I’ve learned to recognize the signs and stop the progress.

Procrastination is my first indicator. If I’m alert, I will catch myself. If I miss or ignore the warning signs, I’ll slip and slide my way down to reading my Bible from my own perspective and agenda. Soon after, I lose sight of the LORD and His sovereign goodness and love. Troubles always follow.

Don’t be discouraged! Our LORD always hears and answers our cries for help; even when it’s a mess of our own making. Sometimes there is mercy and grace, so we are spared the consequences. Others times we receive mercy, but the consequences come anyway. Either way, forgiveness and restoration is immediate. All we have to do is confess our sin of pride, and ask for help. And yes, trusting my own understanding, instead of God’s, is pride!

Most days, I read my Bible because I’m eager to hear God’s heart and learn His perspective on, well, everything. I’ve discovered something wonderful. When I choose to follow God’s way, my trust in Him grows. Next comes confidence in God and His ways. Confidence helps me let go of my need to understand God’s reason’s, so I can act. Putting action behind my beliefs is being faithful. And the faithful are overcomers!

My View from the Bottom

Our lighthouse experience was a gentle reminder to remain self-controlled and alert; trusting the LORD with all my heart and not leaning on my own understanding (1 Peter 5:8 & Proverbs 3:5).

How about you? Does God remind you of lessons already learned? Why do you think He does that?

George and Me
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