The lighthouse

With the Society's ongoing discernment process about its future and the possibility of closure of a few Regional Mission Units (RMUs), I felt anxious one day. I found myself searching for something to hold on to - something that would assure me of God’s abiding presence, protection, and guidance. I wished for an image, a symbol, or anything that could help keep me calm. Then, the words of a wise Columban came out of nowhere: “We do not create symbols. We stumble on them.”

Sitting in my room, facing the wall where the headboard of my bed is in place, a frame with a towering picture of a lighthouse caught my attention. I have been in this room for about four years already, yet this picture never really attracted me that much. Until this day.

Gazing upon the image of the lighthouse, I was brought back to an experience I had around June 2004 when a fisherman friend and his wife brought me to an islet referred to by many as “White Sand” in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental. My friend told me that this place was their refuge during typhoons, where they could safely stay for a while before returning home. Moreover, this islet also provided them with enough fish for consumption during their unlucky nights of fishing. With the local government’s plan to turn the islet into a venue for dolphin shows, their livelihood and safety were threatened.

On our way back, it was already late and pitch-dark. It was so dark that it was hard for me to notice someone next to me unless they talked. Out of curiosity, I asked my friend how certain he could be that we would reach the seashore close to their home, given the darkness that surrounded us. Without hesitation, he directed my sight toward a flickering light in the distance. I had to squint my eyes to really see it. Then he told me, “That comes from the lighthouse. If we follow that light’s direction, no matter how faint it is, we will arrive at our destination!”

That is it. The lighthouse. A symbol I stumbled upon one lazy day. A symbol that beckons everyone who wishes to arrive at the right place. A symbol that brings hope and instils courage to those who may be struggling to find their way. A symbol that guides, directs, and lights up a sparkle of delight to someone who longs to reach home. A dim light in the darkness. But light, nevertheless.

As we wrestle with the uncertainty of our future - with diminishing personnel and resources, and the possibility of closing RMUs - we need to seek God’s light to point us to the right direction, to provide us with a ray of hope, even if it is a faint one. As my fisherman friend told me: “If we follow that light’s direction, no matter how faint it is, we will arrive at our destination!”

Columban Fr Jovito Dales with parishioners during the Mission Appeal in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. Photo: Fr Jovito Dales SSC

May we remain mindful of God’s presence as we journey forward - whether through a lighthouse or whatever symbol we may stumble upon along the way.