Last summer one of our neighbors set a large ceramic pig out on their property at the corner of Plum Street and First Avenue. Immediately it gained fame as “the Plum Street Pig.” It was so much fun and such a great conversation piece that I began to wrack my brain for something we could set on the front corner of our property. As we visited flea markets and department stores, I constantly looked for the perfect lawn ornament.
Eventually, my search evolved into searching for something that would be, in some way, symbolic. One day a light bulb came on in my brain… of course, a lighthouse.* It would be the perfect symbol of what we wanted to be in our neighborhood—a light to help draw our neighbors to Jesus.
Simultaneously, as this idea was percolating, we put our iPod on shuffle songs one day. Out of the past came a song I’d forgotten by Kathy Trocolli: Go Light Your World. I dug around and found a book I’d purchased years ago that contained that song and wept as I played and sang these words:
Verse 1 **
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
Chorus:
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
The Holy Spirit used this song to fan again the flame of my passion for souls in Greenville, the town where I never wanted to live. I’ve discovered He instills passion in us in many different ways. My dear cousin, Alma, who spent many hours with my grandfather, Mose Beachy, who died before I was born, said she credits him and his influence with her passion for souls. Now in her nineties, she still drives to a distant community to carry the light of Jesus to the lost. I’m moved by her passion and her faithfulness.
I believe the Holy Spirit birthed the idea of having a lighthouse on our property to renew my passion to be a light in our community. His heart is broken for those who are still in darkness and He wants to break our hearts with what breaks His.
Lord Jesus, we know that first of all, YOU are the light of the world (John 8:12), but you also tell us we are the light of the world. Break our hearts for those who are still in darkness and make us passionate to allow your light to shine through us.
