Mind the Light

After many years of minding the lighthouse on Robbins Reef off the shores of the New England states, Jacob Walker contracted pneumonia one cold, stormy night. His decades of faithful service now ended in death. His wife arranged for his body to be buried on the hillside shore of the mainland opposite the lighthouse. She then applied for, and received, the appointment to take his place as a keeper of the light. For 20 years she carried on alone. A New York City reporter came to the lighthouse for a visit and an interview before those 20 years were over. He asked her what motivated her to keep going for all the years alone. Her answer was: “Every evening I stand at the door of the lighthouse and look across the waters to the hillside where my husband sleeps and I seem to hear his voice say with the same urgency as when he was alive, ‘Mind the light! Mind the light!’ This is what keeps me going.”

There are troubled waters, dark times and stormy events all around us too. I think of the children’s song I learned many years ago.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

The community around us needs that.

Blessed by more than I deserve, and challenged by more than I can handle alone.

Henry Wiebe