Harbour Lighthouse

By Nicolas Bocskai

The journey through treacherous waters placed a little concern on the crew of the cargo ship, "Majestic Enterprise," off the Atlantic coast of southeastern Virginia. The storm was actually a hurricane that had cropped up from the tropical waters in the Carribean Sea. This was the hurricane season of the year and the alert had been placed all along the mid-Atlantic shores and further south for the past week. It was midnight at this hour and balmy weather had left a low-pressure system in the regional area. The Cape Henry lighthouse was shining forth at this hour to offer safe haven, within sight, for the shipping crews of the vessels off the coast in this violent storm. The Coast Guard lighthouse station had a foghorn on its government based property

Further out in the stormy sea the "Majestic Enterprise" was experiencing rough sea conditions as she made way for the port of safety. The sound of the foghorn and mixture of wind and rain placed concern on the faces of the maritime sailors. The more experienced sailors thought it a passing thing that should not worry the crew, for they had braved worse storms in the North Atlantic in time past. They would get through it though, so that by daybreak the hurricane weather would be history. The haunting sound of the foghorn was calling out to all vessels in the Atlantic storm. "Enter the port of safety and calmer seas!" What a welcome sigh of relief once the vessel passed from the Atlantic into the Thimble Shoal Channel at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The stormy sea with hurricane strength wind was behind them now as they made landfall in the region. In time past, and tonight also, the lighthouse had proven again its importance for the navigation safety of seafarers and anyone else who might be off the coast.

The season of autumn was upon the patrons of Hampton Roads with the harvest time of the year at our front door. In some gardens of the residents, pumpkins were plentiful for they grew and multiplied in great abundance. In the neighborhoods, backyard gardens were a common occurrence. It pleased the residents to remember nostalgic feelings during this, the harvest time. Bails of hay, Indian corn, resident black cats, and bright orange home grown pumpkins would be used at Halloween to decorate for the Trick or Treaters. Visiting each home in the neighborhood on Lynnhaven Inlet was the desire of each witch, goblin, and ghost out tonight. Oh yes, don't forget… pumpkins and black cats always set the scene for the night. With darkness soon upon us, Halloween night had arrived.

At the primary school grounds of the children, a harvest jubilee carnival had been setup with rides and entertainment for them. This had been so for the last several years thru Indian summer in November. It was an exciting time for the kids and they were quite busy each afternoon after school. It might be said that on Halloween night, the carnival would be a ghost town for the young people. For other things such as free candy and Halloween church parties would bring out the kids, even in the older generations. Each guest would design and wear their own Halloween costume. What a sight for sore eyes for some of the apparel created and worn on this night of evil.

Tomorrow, November 1, All Saint's Day, would be the day of reconciliation between creator and sinner for the dark activities of the previous night. Repent and return to God, the ministry would say, and most everyone would. But there are some who would not, being overcome by the ways of the world and their inability to continue to walk with Jesus.

The seasons of the year come and go with movement of time… new life in the spring and the closing of the year in autumn with ashes and decay. Each season, being unique, speaks for itself with nostalgic holidays. How do you grasp the feeling of seeing a red cardinal feeding in winter falling snow upon red-berry branches during the Christmas Yule time? The winter winds blow with a whistle sound through pathway corridors of neighborhood trees and houses. Families cuddle together at such times around fireplaces and wood stoves looking directly into the flame of burning crackling logs.

Back at harbour lighthouse, the keepers awaited daybreak to secure the light. The storm was a passing thing and many thought well of it, the fact that the hurricane had only brushed the coast. Many storms, in the past, of greater magnitude had caused much damage to property. But now we had new protection directly from God to pray that He would protect Hampton Roads from numerous hurricane storms coming our way. It is a strange situation that most people don't understand. That is, how prayer to God changes things. In our area, many prayers have gone up before God's Throne. We know as Christians, that He is concerned about every minute detail that concerns us. We know that if we wholeheartedly submit to God and seek His face, He will heal us of situations that trouble us.

Also, as a nation, if we repent as one, as a nation, God will heal our land. The rest of the world may be living in hell and darkness, but we, if we abide in the light and expose all things of darkness and make corrections where needed, we shall find the favor of the Lord and live abundantly. Repentance must begin at home and spread throughout the world. First, a raindrop, second, a stream, then a river, finally an ocean. The prosperity of the Gospel will expand like this for all mankind. Let's all be a part of the mission and get it done for Jesus. The Gospel shall spread throughout the entire world, then the end will come. We will be with God from everlasting to everlasting for eternity. Look for the lighthouse in the midst of the storm, for Jesus is the light of the house.

Frederick Bacskay… (pen name: Nicolas Bocskai…)
P.O. Box 13566
Chesapeake, Virginia 23325 USA