The Lesson of the Lighthouse
The Lesson of the Lighthouse
Finding Direction through Distortion
Personal reflections from a fellow traveler. Not AA approved literature. Shared in the Spirit of Experience, Strength, and Hope.
There are seasons for everything. Seasons of joy, happiness and love. Also, times of despair, fear, emotional pain, and discomfort. Perhaps the uncomfortable seasons can be compared to a ship’s captain navigating through dense fog on a rocky shoreline. The way forward is obscured; I can’t see. I’m confused, lost, anxious. The shallow waters and jagged rocks below taunt me as I enter an unfamiliar space.
Pause here.
Since these writings center around recovery, I’d like us to think about what our imaginary ship’s captain should do. Option A: Immediately get drunk. Disregard everything and change the way he feels to remove stress, fear, and uncertainty. Option B: slow the ship down, check the maritime charts, scan the horizon for the faint glow of the lighthouse.
We all know the right answer. It’s easy to tell someone what we think they should do. Especially the captain of a ship. After all, the captain is responsible for their passengers, cargo, and safe arrival at the determined destination.
Let’s turn this simple analogy inward and imagine our life as the ship, our passengers are those we love and who need us. The faint glow of the lighthouse represents our Higher Power, whom I call God.
At certain times in life, I can’t see ahead. I have no security. I’m not exactly sure which way is North, but the lighthouse blinks as if to say: “Not this way, jagged rocks and shoreline ahead.”
Sometimes that’s all I get. Often, that’s all I need. The jagged shoreline represents alcohol, drugs, or anything that changes the way I feel to provide the illusion of escape. That’s right, the illusion of escape.
The fog has materialized to teach me to slow down, reduce the propellor speed and scan for the faint dim light that blinks a warning.
Where in my life do I need to slow down and look for the light?