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Monday, June 18, 2007

my first lighthouse

This past week I went with my family to Hilton Head Island, SC. I have been going there once each year since I was about 5 years old. During the week I took my girls (several times) to Harbor Town, to ride bikes, to eat ice cream, to ride the trolley, and to climb the lighthouse, which is perhaps the most famous landmark on Hilton Head. When I talk about lighthouses and picture what they are and do, I picture the lighthouse in Harbor Town on Hilton Head. This past year, particularly, it has become a significant emblem for me (and hopefully the congregation) of our calling as followers of Jesus Christ. I was reminded again of the many important functions of a lighthouse, and some of the particular ones of THAT lighthouse in Harbor Town.

A lighthouse does the following...
  1. Is not the light, but houses the light.
  2. Guides those at sea with the light it houses - at night, in storms, and even in daylight.
  3. Warns ships away from land where they might ground and be damaged.
  4. Welcomes ships into safe harbor, where they might rest, refuel, restock, and go out again.
  5. Functions as a landmark, not only literally, but in the common sense of the word - something people come to see, experience, and participate in (we got stickers for climbing the 114 stairs after all).
  6. In an extension of being a landmark, it becomes something to talk about and tell others ("We climbed the HH lighthouse!")
Would that I were as effective as a follower of Jesus!

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