About a Lighthouse

A Parable About a Lighthouse
By Alan D Campbell

In many ways it was a typical New England town. It was in Massachusetts on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the white caps would pound the shoreline filled with many jagged rocks. It was in the days before modern navigational aids. Ships would sometimes run aground in the dark and stormy seas on their way to Boston Harbor and small craft would capsize and those aboard would perish.

Then the mayor of the town called many of its citizens to a town hall meeting. The citizens who answered the mayor’s call decided to build and operate a lighthouse and rescue service. The mayor assigned his son to lead the project because the mayor’s son was a builder and had a heart for serving others.

The townspeople were excited to have a part in such an important mission. The mayor’s son laid the foundation for the lighthouse and the rest of the townspeople completed it. They formed a lighthouse society and took turns operating the lighthouse. Those who were more skilled in boating and swimming formed a rescue team to save those who were in peril even with the aid of the lighthouse.

Far fewer ships ran aground because of the lighthouse. The rescue team saved all of the small craft that capsized in the rough waters. The project was a success as the townspeople had hearts that yearned to be of service as they eagerly cooperated with the mayor’s son who directed the building of the lighthouse and served as president of the lighthouse society.

Because of their common interests, the members of the lighthouse society began to have many social activities, including boating and rescue contests, picnics, special dinners, dances, bowling teams, and golf tournaments. These activities grew in popularity. In a few years, these activities had become so varied and enjoyable that fewer and fewer members of the lighthouse society had any time left to operate the lighthouse or any desire to give of their financial resources for its upkeep.

Even worse, some members of the society began to argue and fight among themselves. Some members left in disgust, and other members filed lawsuits against their fellow members. A small number of members performed most of the work that needed to be done, and some tasks were left undone.