Sometimes in life we feel like this lighthouse here – we are a short squatty lighthouse, when it seems like life “expects” us to be a tall skinny lighthouse.
We only have a small fourth-order Fresnel lens … and not only that, our lens is red.
The lighthouse a little further down the coastline is tall and skinny, like what is “expected.” It has the larger, more powerful first-order Fresnel lens. It’s light beam can be seen 21 nautical miles out to sea. And its lens is clear … not red. Alas, our beam is not as strong. Our beam isn’t as bright.
It seems like we are expected to have a greater fuel supply than we have … we are expected to be able to do more than we can do. But this fuel supply is all we’ve got. This is all we can do.
Love is honest. Both with ourself … and with others. Love says: “Yes, I’m only a short squatty lighthouse. But that’s who I am. I can’t change that. I was built this way on purpose, and I bring great value to the world just the way I am!”
Love is honest. Love says: “Yes, my lens is red. That’s who I am. My red lens makes me uniquely different. Ships know exactly where they are along the coastline when they see my red beam of light. My red lens matters!”
Love is honest. Love says: “Yes, I only have a small fourth order Fresnel lens. Yes, my beam of light doesn’t shine as far as others’. But my beam matters! My beam still shines through the dark nights. My beam still warns of danger. My beam is making a difference! My small beam of light matters!”
Love is honest. Love says: “Yes, I only have this limited supply of fuel. I can’t do everything life ‘expects’ from me. But I have just enough fuel to do what really matters in life. My limited fuel supply is enough!”
Love is honest. Love says: “Even though I’m not what most of life ‘expects’ me to be, I’m remaining rock-solid on this bluff. I’ll continue to shine my beacon out into the dark. Because my light matters! My light has incredible value and worth! My beacon is helping people whom I don’t even know! My light is making a difference!”
My God made me … just like this!
My God loves me!
My God has put me on this stretch of coastline on purpose!
And I will shine the light of love!
“This is what the LORD says – he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: ‘Do not be afraid. … Do not tremble, do not be afraid.’” – Isaiah 44:2, 8
God says: “You whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you.” – Isaiah 46:3-4
“I will make you a light … that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6
“This is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light … that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” – Acts 13:47
God says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” – Jeremiah 1:5
“I praise you God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:14
