What was the purpose of this building? Many times, as I have traveled across the Midwest, I’ve seen buildings located in the middle of nowhere. These buildings have been discovered on farms and in cornfields, far from any other edifice. Abandoned, old, and neglected, these structures seem out of place. Oftentimes I will ask myself, what was the purpose of this building?
Architecture
The character or style of a building or structure, its architecture, can reveal much about its purpose without explanation. Such famous examples would be the Eiffel Tower, the White House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Empire State Building, and the Sydney Opera House. Upon a glance, these magnificent examples of design and construction are profound. Each building evokes a different emotional response from simply gazing at its profile. Other buildings are generic, nondescript, rectangular boxes. Without a distinct sign, their purpose is left to the imagination.
About an hour west of Marquette, Michigan is a small town named Munising. Munising sits on the southern shore of Lake Superior across the South Bay from the Grand Island. There are two distinct buildings facing each other across South Bay from Munising to Grand Island. Their purpose is to keep shipping traffic safe as they travel through the channel.
The Lighthouses
While returning from our cruise past the Pictured Rocks, our tour guide pointed out that the Munising lighthouse was equipped with a light that easily told travelers whether they were on course or not. He illustrated this technology to us by crossing the bay from east to west. If you were traveling east of the lighthouse, you would see a red light. If you were traveling west of the lighthouse, you would see a green light. And, if you were traveling straight at the lighthouse, you would see a white light. These lights were visible for miles away from shore; thus, travelers could correct their course easily. Therefore, one purpose of a lighthouse is to bring travelers safely home!
This experience reminded me of the hymn written by Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876) titled “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy”.
“Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from his lighthouse ever more, But to us he gives the keeping of the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning; send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, you may rescue, you may save.”
An undeviating course
In October 2014, President Thomas S. Monson said “The lighthouse of the Lord beckons to all as we sail the seas of life. Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course toward our desired goal—even the celestial kingdom of God. A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder, never likely to reach home port. To us comes the signal: chart your course, set your sail, position your rudder, and proceed.”
What tools do we have available to chart our course safely home? First and most important in our toolbox is the Light of Christ within us. This guiding influence can provide course corrections to our day. Like a traveling sailor, we must look to the light, gauge where we are on our course, and make corrections to straighten our pathway home. We have Holy Scriptures detailing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Words written by those who came before us and have successfully navigated rough waters. Their words shine brightly in a dark world. And, we have a living prophet and apostles who are inspired to guide us in these latter days.
Follow the Light
Keep your eyes up and follow the light, my friends. Make corrections as you travel. Chart your course using the scriptures and the light of Christ as your guide. That poor fainting, struggling seaman, you may rescue? Perhaps it will be you. So, follow the light, and let us all meet safely back home.
