A dear friend of mine Shelly Bowles gave me the picture you see which has been hanging on my wall in my office for 15 years. Up until about two years, I thought it was a painting only to discover that it is really a photograph that was taken in 1989. This morning, as I was thinking about the picture, I looked up the story behind it and I was amazed by what I read. I would like to share the story with you and the spiritual analogy the Holy Spirit brought to mind.
As you may or may not know, there are several lighthouses in the North Sea. They were built in such a way to withstand some of the worst storms with gale force winds and high, powerful waves. Between 1888 and 1904 some thirty ships wrecked in this area. This picture is of the La Jument lighthouse off the coast of France. On December 21, 1989, a low pressure front coming from Ireland brought gale force winds and huge waves of 80 to 100 high which crashed spectacularly against the lighthouse. On this day, the waves smashed through the lower windows of the La Jument lighthouse, flooded the tower and washed away the furniture. Lighthouse keeper, Théodore Malgorn, decided to take refuge higher up in the lantern room while waiting to be rescued.
About the same time, photographer, Jean Guichard, was in Lorient, France hiring a helicopter to take aerial pictures of the storm. Guichard wanted to fly over the Iroise Sea despite extremely dangerous flying conditions. His helicopter made it to the La Jument lighthouse and hovered around it for Guichard to take pictures of the waves pounding the lighthouse. Inside the tower, Malgorn heard what he thought was his rescue helicopter and he hurried downstairs to open the door and look for it. Can you imagine what was going through his mind when he realized the helicopter was there for the photographer to take pictures rather than to save his life?
As you can see, this amazing photo was taken at the very moment a giant wave rose over the rear of the lighthouse and smashed against it. Even though the wave was behind Malgorn, he sensed it was about to hit and possibly engulf the structure and wash him out to sea. As a result, he rushed back inside just in time to save his life. The good news is that he did survive because of how sturdy the lighthouse was constructed.
As I thought about this story, the Lord brought these thoughts to mind. Imagine this man in this picture is you, with the storm representing the struggles you are facing today or have experienced so far in your life. The lighthouse represents God and the wave represent the waves of thoughts and emotions you are feeling as a result of your struggles. (frustration, anger, anxiety, guilt, shame, unforgiveness, etc.) Guichard, the photographer and the helicopter represent the world. The helicopter could also represent you and I trying to deal with the struggle in our own strength, independent of God.
In every struggle you and I face, we have a choice. We can turn to others or what the world offers to rescue us from our struggles (i.e. coping with the struggle through such things as alcohol, TV, pornography, hobbies, work, etc.) Or like Malgorn, we realize that the world, others, nor ourselves can save us, can overcome the struggle or experience the peace of Christ that we all want to experience in the storms we face in life and choose to go back into the Divine lighthouse, where the Lord Himself will be our Refuge, our Peace and our Deliverer.
Therefore, I pray that whatever struggle you are facing internally or externally today you will continuously seek the Lord as your refuge and pray the same prayer David did in Psalm 31:2
“Turn Your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress (lighthouse)where I will be safe.”
In His love,
Bill
