National Lighthouse Day | JOY for Today

As a lighthouse beckons ships to safe harbor, Jesus invites us to live in his JOY. Linger here; you're safe on these shores.

National Lighthouse Day | August 7th Annually

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Five lighthouse facts we didn't know.
• Wolfe Stew Connects To finding our light. 
• Bible Verses and Quotes Inspired by lighthouses.
• Activity Suggestions Music, art, design, science, history, literature, discussion questions, and family challenge.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: 

• Global Sleep Under the Stars Night (August 8th Annually)
• National Roller Coaster Day (August 16th Annually)
• Speak Kind Words Saturday (August's Fourth Saturday)

Did You Know:

1. The first lighthouse was in Egypt? Built in 300 BC on the island of Pharos, fire on a platform over 100 meters high directed sailors to the port entrance in Alexandria. (CNN Travel & WorldHistory.org)
2. The United States has more lighthouses than any other country? We reached a peak at around 850 in operation at once and there have been 1,500 constructed throughout time. Michigan has the most of any state at 140. (CNN Travel & United States Lighthouse Society)
3. The Tower of Hercules is the oldest operational lighthouse? Located in Spain's La Coruna harbor, The Tower of Hercules was built in the first century and is the only Greco-Roman lighthouse of antiquity to retain structural integrity. (CNN Travel & UNESCO)
4. Lighthouse keeper was one of the first U.S. government jobs that welcomed women? Although often the spouse of an assistant or head keeper, women performed professional tasks to aid their husbands and sometimes assumed their husbands' role when he got sick or died. (CNN Travel, United States Coast Guard, & National Marine Sanctuaries)
5. The colors and patterns on the towers are purposely planned? Each tower's unique pattern helps sailors uniquely and easily identify it as a landmark in the daytime. The patterns are chosen both to help it stand out from the surrounding environment and to distinguish it from other nearby lighthouses. (CNN Travel, Lighthouse Preservation, & Trinity House)

We'd Love to Know:   

Which of these facts most interested you?

Wolfe Stew Connects

At the end of a psychologist-client journey, my sister's former colleague would gift her client a lighthouse. A beacon of hope. A reminder that there is always light, you just must choose to find it.

Where do you find your light? 

If you find it in acquiring things, going places, and surrounding yourself with people that make you happy, it won't last. Happiness fades quickly and is contingent on circumstances. 

If you find it in success, falls happen. There will come a time when no matter how much effort you exert, certain ladders will remain unscalable.

If you find it in people, people fail. For many of us, our motivation for living, achieving, and improving is others, but if we hang all our hopes on one person and that person lets us down, darkness descends.

So, where should you find your light? 

Why not from the light of the world? Why not look to Jesus? (John 8:12)

He is trustworthy. Rend Collective reminds us that with Him we are safe in a song that I always hear sung by the sweet voices of my nieces and nephews. A song that set the soundtrack for summer afternoons at "Aunt E. School" several years ago: 

My lighthouse, my lighthouse, shining through the darkness I will follow you safe to shore. 

He is able. My heart rests in His authority as it responds to “My Lighthouse” with these lyrics from Cody Carnes:

For you are the light of the world, who else could lead me? 

I hope you find Him in your darkness. Look for His light; it's calling you home.

In response:

1. Revisit a dark time in your life. As you look back, find God's light in that dark moment. Carry the memory through to the present. Remind yourself God is always with you - even in the darkness.
2. Learn with us that we too are lights as we grow to be exemplary by studying Proverbs 31:18 and 31. We're examining the meaning of lamps and why God wants them lit. Take a peek at our Wolfe Notes from last week where we realized the most savvy choice is letting God lead.

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses 

• "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 KJV
• "Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 MEV
• "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 MEV
• "And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out." John 1:5 ISV
• "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in the land of the shadow of death, the light will shine on them." Isaiah 9:2 LSB

Quotes

• "Once the lighthouse is seen, the rest of the sea is ignored." - Terri Guillemets
• "A lighthouse doesn't save the ships; it doesn't go out and rescue them. It's just this pillar that helps to guide people home." - Lea Michele
• "To be a lighthouse, you must be strong enough to resist every kind of storm, to every kind of loneliness and you must have a powerful light inside you!" - Mehmet Murat Ildan
• "We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine." - Dwight L. Moody
• "I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve." - George Bernard Shaw

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote resonates most with you?

Activity Suggestions

Lighthouse Music

Read the lyrics and interpret the meaning. Then, listen to the song. Discuss how the composition of the music and performance of the song developed the meaning of the lyrics. Respond to the song by drawing an inspired picture, writing an additional verse, or memorizing a favorite section.

Alternatively, use your preferred selection as background music, for transitions, or for movement and enjoyment.

CHRISTIAN

• "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective. Notable Lyric: "My lighthouse, my lighthouse shining in the darkness I will follow You...I will trust the promise You will carry me safe to shore."
• "I'll Follow" by Cody Carnes. Notable Lyric: "You are the light of the world, who else could lead me?"
• "This Little Light of Mine" Traditional. Notable Lyric: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!"
• "I Saw the Light" performed by Crowder. Notable Lyric: "I saw the light. I saw the light. No more darkness no more night."

SECULAR

• "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon. Notable Lyric: "My soul is there beside you / Let this candle guide you / Soon you'll see a golden stream of light."
• "Lights" by Ellie Goulding. Notable Lyric: "You show the lights that stop me turn to stone. ... and so I tell myself that I'll be strong... 'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home."
• "I See the Light" from Tangled. Notable Lyric: "And at last I see the light / And it's like the fog has lifted / And the world has somehow shifted"
• "Be a Light" by Thomas Rhett. Notable Lyric: "Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine / In a world full of hate be a light."

Lighthouse Art

• Drawing tutorials: YouTube video from Art for Kids Hub or printable step-by step from Art Projects for Kids
• 3D Canvas Art from Easy Peasy and Fun

Lighthouse Learning

• PreK-1: Design a lighthouse with Smithsonian.
• 2-3: Learn lighthouse vocabulary, explore properties of light, design your own lighthouse, and uncover lighthouse mysteries with this Lighthouse Curriculum packet from the United States Lighthouse Society
• 4-6: Complete a Ghost Canoe (by Will Hobbs) novel study with the United States Lighthouse Society or use their online database to complete a lighthouse research project.

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Stay the night in a lighthouse or firehouse?
• Travel by boat or by plane?
• Design the inside or outside of a lighthouse?

If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every August day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint. 

Take on the Family Challenge

Discuss ways to shine light for others include personal examples of others shining a light for you. Choose a motivational quote, from above or elsewhere, that inspires you to shine your light. Display it on a lighthouse.

We'd Love to Know:

What lighthouses inspire you to do?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. 

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Sample these related posts:

Check yourself: where do you shine your light?

Dare to hope again.
Shine your light. Tell your story.

Light your candle.

Accept life-giving communication as a responsibility.

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.