I love lighthouses, probably because they stir my soul as a metaphor for life.  They are solid, unchanging, immovable, let out a comforting glow day and night, and are designed for protection.  When I think of God’s presence during difficult times, a lot of those same words come to mind…unchanging, comforting, protection in the midst of the storms of life.

Our business is a bit storm-tossed at the moment, so the thought of Heavenly guidance and protection is enormously comforting to me.  A few weeks ago, our project manager (whom we thought of highly) gave notice of leaving and has now been gone a week.  I have been diligently working on posting and interviewing for a replacement but to no avail so far.  The skill needed that we are looking for is very specific and there just are not a lot of people out there in that field.

Now, another employee, one we also think a lot of, gave notice and in a week, we are going to be down two people which means that all of the front office (non-production) work is going to fall on my husband and myself.  My husband and I could just give up sleep…who needs it… overrated, right?

My first reaction in the face of losing two employees in our very small business was to panic, however there is limited forward progress when that happens.  After a few days of emotional angst and not sleeping very well, I decided to take a deep breath, read my bible more, pray more and do the best I could to calm down and start trusting God to carry us through our storm…thus the lighthouse metaphor.

A lighthouse does not stop the storm but it gives guidance in the midst of the rough seas.  By keeping an eye on that warm, friendly beacon, ship captains are able to navigate safely through rough water to safety.

I’m doing the best I can to view our situation like that.  I tend to want God to just stop the storms that hit our family and always keep us in calm water, however there are times in life that we are going to hit that rough water.  I am the type that really, rather selfishly, just wants peace in my life.  At least I think that’s what I want because my life constantly seems to be filled with a storm here, a rocky outcropping there, threatening to rip a hole in the side of the hull of my life.

Maybe instead of asking for calm water, I just focus on trusting that God really has my life under control…even if it doesn’t look like it.  If I steer by that trust, not completely “freaking out” but staying calm, little by little maybe we will move towards calmer waters.

I have been reminded the past few weeks that my current “storm” is nothing compared to the devastation from wildfires in California.  So many families have lost everything they possess in the fires and many have lost loved ones as well.  My heart goes out to them and the town of Paradise.  I am reminded that what I think is hard in my life is nothing compared to what they are facing.

Ending with the lighthouse metaphor, sometimes all we can do in this life is to hang on for dear life, keep an eye on the beacon and steer as straight as we can through the storm, knowing that even if this life doesn’t ever have completely calm water, there is always heaven to look forward to.  Jesus is the ultimate beacon of light.