A picture of a lighthouse hangs on the wall in my study, depicting an early morning sky and a rosy dawn. Waves crash up against the cliff where the lighthouse stands, but the lighthouse sends out a steady ray. A snug cottage stands firmly by the sturdy lighthouse. One can almost imagine the wonderful rest and nourishment available there after an arduous journey.
One day a major disagreement between my husband and me surfaced. We both felt we were right, and later that night I went to bed feeling worn out over this argument. The next morning I still felt embattled. I was worried that the frustration I had would continue to drag me down emotionally, and that this disagreement would harm our marriage.
As I began my usual early morning study and prayer, the lighthouse picture “spoke” to me. It dawned on my consciousness as a pictorial parable, teaching me that I needed to continue praying to “shine,” even in a tough situation. Metaphorically, if my thought was a lighthouse, I was the lighthouse keeper, tending to it and “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).
