Keeper's Log Special Addendum The One Who Watches

The One Who Watches

As you have seen in our photos, our lighthouse sits high atop a rocky out-cropping connected to the mainland by a “beach” of sand, gravel and rock.  As the tide comes in, it closes around the point and it covers the beach area, and at its deepest, is waist high at high tide.

Part of what I do as keeper is to warn tourists who either crossed before the tide rises or who cross when the water is very shallow and don’t mind getting their feet wet.  In either case, they may be unaware that the tide will continue to rise to the point where is covers the beach and at the deepest, is waist high at high tide.

The danger is not the depth or the strength of current.  The danger is that you can not see the rocks to step on when under water, and if you do fall, you are not falling on soft sandy beach, but pointy rock and this is how people get hurt.  

So I will make my rounds and warn people.  As everyone exits, I will stand at a point high on the hill where I could see who might be still crossing despite the shallow water cover, and those who remain on the mainland side of the tidal basin.

As I looked down on these explorers, it struck me that this might be similar to how the man upstairs watches us.  He knows how drawn we are to the lighthouse - or anything that lures us in this life.  All He can do is warn us of the dangers - but in the presence of this danger never does He take our free will from us.  

So if we cross, we cross.  If we heed the warning, we return to the mainland.  If the keeper warns us and we ignore it, then we very well may pay the consequences.  The Wathcher knows the allure of the lighthouse sitting so invitingly on the hill and just wants us to be safe.  

I imagine He just wants us to be safe.