Today we visited Castle Hill in Newport, RI just because the weather was so nice. There is an old granite lighthouse, built in 1890, that now has a flashing red beacon to signal the shore. This little lighthouse is only 34 feet tall. When you approach the lighthouse from Castle Hill, you actually stand at eye level with the beacon. What strikes you is that this is a petite lighthouse. It isn't impressive because of its size, but what does impress you is that it has faithfully signaled since 1890 and keeps on doing just that.
The first picture shows you the view from the coastline. This petite lighthouse stands proud on its promontory and faces the sea with its best face forward. When you approach the lighthouse from the trail side, the lighthouse shows its weary side. The metal work is rusting, the paint is chipping, and the mortar needs to be re-pointed. But this petite lighthouse keeps its best face forward and signals, rust and all. It wears its rust and its age like a badge of honor.
There's a great truth in this little lighthouse. When you are fulfilling your purpose, it doesn't matter if a little rust stains your paint. There is a beauty in doing what you were created for that exceeds what Hollywood can deliver. We call that beauty character , and to paraphrase an old commercial ... we get it the old fashioned way, we earn it!
Keep the faith
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