I don’t consider myself a sailor, although I have been on sailboats and motorboats. Years ago we even had a sailboat, but I have always been along for the ride. But navigational beacons are needed when driving a car, just like navigating the water – stop signs, stop lights, speed limit signs, yield signs, construction ahead…you get the idea – and they are also needed for navigating this life. I read these lines by Max Lucado during my quiet time this morning. “Here are some God-given, time-tested truths that define the way you should navigate your life. Observe them and enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and crash against the ragged rocks of reality…” He goes on to list some items he refers to as Laws of the Lighthouse. The complete list can be found here and can be printed for a bookmark! I am printing mine today. My favorite law is “pray twice as much as you fret” – at least that is today’s favorite. Then I ran across this story:
Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’“
Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”
The captain said, “Send: “I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’“
“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’”
Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”
We changed course.
This story was taken from here.
This story certainly illustrates the importance of following the Laws of the Lighthouse. You know sometimes you get a song in your head and you can’t get it out? Well, for the last few weeks there has been a song in head that was very popular in the early 1970s in my Christian community. It was written by Ronnie Henson and it was entitled Jesus is the Lighthouse and told the story of how the lighthouse had guided him through a storm. Now the big ships didn’t sail by the lighthouse anymore, it was old and people wanted to tear it down. But the writer remembered how the lighthouse had guided him and how thankful he was for the “old lighthouse.”
Jesus truly is the lighthouse…thank you Lord for being my Lighthouse, for guiding me and always being there…always being constant and consistent. Please help me to keep my focus on you and the light that you put before me to guide me.
What is your favorite Law of the Lighthouse? As I said, today’s favorite is pray twice as much as you fret…I should have a pretty good day today, if I follow that!
Thanks for stopping by…I hope you have a blessed day!
I almost forgot somebody asked where I got my new font. I found them here have fun!
Today I'm thinking I like "The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number." I read something yesterday to the effect of a "jouney having a beginning, middle, and end. And when we are in the middle, no one is allowed to see what the end will be. Finishing is hard work, but to finish well, that's glory." Live on the page of life one is in and seek to finish well – for God's glory. Thanks for this. I've printed a bookmark.
A lighthouse indeed!
Thank you for this, Mary.
My brother delivered a sermon one time about the side car mirror. On the mirror is states, "Objects are closer than they appear." He went on to explain how during troubling times, God is closer than he appears. Everytime I get int he car, I remember that God is always near to me. I just have to reach out to Him.
Gosh, I loved this post. Thanks! I am off to print my copy of the Laws of the Lighthouse! 🙂