A Light in the Gloom

What if the universe intends for you to be a lighthouse, shining brightly but where the ships always pass on and leave you behind? Can you embrace that role or will you dim your light because you prefer another task? Shine on in peace and have hope.I remember writing this intention right around the time I wrote the story Hank and the Lighthouse that you can find here in the archives. And I remember distinctly where my head was, that the light wasn’t appreciated, that it was valued but not loved. And today, when I read this, I feel it differently. While the light can be seen as passive, it’s not. It needs a direction, an intensity, a focus. And each time the light shifts, the world it illuminates or does not shifts as well.So, in a way, the light from the lighthouse is constantly dimming and brightening as it sweeps around. Yes, there is always choice to dim your light permanently or to take it to another place entirely. But I’m no longer sure that we get to choose whether we are a lighthouse, but rather we choose where and how intensely we choose to shine. As you read this I wonder:* For whom are you shining most brightly today?* What joy do you take from the illumination that you provide?* How do you assess what difference you make by shining?We don’t really have a choice as to whether we shine. We do have a choice how we greet ourselves as we do it. As you begin the week, can you shine forth knowing you are making a difference even in the moments when it’s hard to see it? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aconstantbecoming.substack.com