You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. - Psalm 18:28
Having traveled to Cape May every year of my life, you would think I would have made the trek up the spiral staircase of the Cape May Lighthouse. Being one of four, I can only imagine why my parents never wanted to take us to the top (I can just visualize the arguments my siblings and I would have as we tripped on each others' feet while we bolted up the tall staircase, with my parents trying to keep up). While it was never in my cards as a child, my parents always reinforced the significance of the lighthouse.
I remember my mom telling me the lighthouse served as a guide for traveler's by sea. Not only to warn seekers of rough waters ahead, but to let them know when it was safe to land ashore. My mom told me it was a way for fishermen who were lost to find a way home. While the structure of lighthouses from an architectural point of view are beautiful themselves, their spiritual beauty harbors a special place in my heart. Through stormy times of life, it's hard not to be consumed by darkness. But God offers his presence through light, through the beacon that can be seen by all who are adrift. The lighthouse represents personal strength that God is always by my side, no matter how turbulent the waters or dark it may seem. The guiding presence that will always be there - the life raft and buoy in the form of hope. As I continue my Lenten journey, I must remind myself that God's light is true; it's irreplaceable and never dies. I should let my inner-lighthouse burn bright as I continue the journey. This post was originally published at www.megschuster.com.