Monday, June 20, 2005

The Light behind the lighthouse


Travel on the Great Lakes was a treacherous proposition in the 19th century. Crude weather predictions and numerous shoals claimed many a sailing ship. Stories of harrowing rescues and lost lives regularly appeared in the publications of the day.

Picking up on the public fascination with such adventures, enterprising preachers and evangelists readily offered the analogy of ordinary people as sailors tossed about on the stormy seas of life with no hope, save for the lighthouse which pointed the way to the safe harbor of salvation. Many hymns of the period also utilized the stormy sea/harbor of refuge/rescue theme.

In both sermon and song, the lighthouse was always a symbol of Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death on the cross cleared the way for all people to gain entrance into the peaceful harbor.

Today, most lighthouses are nothing more than quaint relics, replaced by satellite weather technology, sonar and global positioning systems. Sadly, in the relative comfort and ease of life made possible by advanced technology, the One who is the Light can also fall into my relic bin if I am not mindful of His presence.

Maybe that’s why I photograph lighthouses.

Sunset, Wind Point Light, Racine, Wisconsin. Click on photo to enlarge. Copyright 2005 James Jordan Posted by Hello

Not sure you believe in the One who is the Light? Got doubts? Wind Scraps tackles that subject in a conversation with her son.

7 comments:

Daldianus said...

Great pic!

But I still don't see why I should believe in the Christian God ;)

James said...

First off, Daldianus, thanks for the compliment on this photo (and the others you've left as well). At the least, I hope some of my photos provide some "cause and effect" evidence of God's existence. And belief or non-belief in God is a choice. I've chosen to believe, and allow that belief to inform my other choices. I could ask, with the same wink and smile with which you ask, "Why not believe?"

Pikkel Weezel said...

That is an awesome pic, did you take it or find it somewhere?

James said...

I took this photo at the same time I took the photo on my June 2nd post. And, thank you!

Daldianus said...

I don't want to fight in here :)

James said...

No fight inferred from your posts. Thanks for continuing to come back.

Anonymous said...

I like this picture. Daldianus:The "Christian God" has more evidence of existence than anything else. He is awesome and loves you!