The Lighthouse

I watched the movie Shutter Island a few weeks ago and was struck by the scenery and locations where the movie was filmed.  The film tells a chilling story about a detective trying to solve a murder case on a secluded island that has an insane asylum.  It’s not my usual movie fare, but as I stated, the scenery caught my eye.  The climax of the movie occurs at a lighthouse on a rocky, wave-sept location on the ocean.  I found this final scene both haunting and beautiful.

After the movie was over, I did a filming location search on the internet.  I was surprised to read:

“East Point, in Nahant, Massachusetts was the location for the lighthouse scenes.”

Being new to the area, I wasn’t sure how close this was to my new home.  Imagine my surprise when Google maps indicated it was only forty minutes away.  I informed my wife that we would have a new adventure the next weekend.  We were going to see the lighthouse in the movie.

The appointed Saturday arrived and off we went to Nahant.  I followed my GPS to East Point and was surprised to find a parking lot with an attendant instead of a beautiful coastal drive to the sought-after lighthouse.  Signs were posted all about that parking was by permit only.  Somewhat confused, I spoke to the attendant who informed me to park at my own risk.

“The police don’t come around often.  You might get away with it,” he said.

Being a rule follower and not having much luck with risk, I drove off to find a sanctioned parking place.  I quickly learned the Town of Nahant is very strict on parking.  The best location was over a mile away with a thirty-minute limit.  I considered telling my wife we would need to traverse several miles in thirty minutes to enjoy the unseen lighthouse but thought better of it. 

I decided to drive and find a vantage point from the car.  I couldn’t find one neighborhood street that offered a glimpse of the Shutter Island Lighthouse.  My wife enjoys adventure as much as I do, but I could tell this particular one was losing its shine.  I decided we should drive to Marblehead and have dinner.  The lighthouse would need to wait for another time.

Not to be daunted, I planned the next excursion to Nahant for the following weekend.  This time I would bring our bicycles so we could make more distance after finding a suitable parking place.  While doing some further research on the lighthouse, I found this additional information:

“Don’t plan to visit, the hospital’s sinister lighthouse – it never existed. A 20-feet-tall base was built on the rocky shore east of the Northeastern University Marine Science Center at East Point, in Nahant, on a promontory a few miles northeast of Boston. The upper section was computer generated.”

I then realized I was seeking something that didn’t exist.  Though I had seen it in a movie and had become convinced it was real, it wasn’t.  No matter how hard I tried to find it and no matter how hard I sought after it, I would never find it.  I felt somewhat foolish as I revealed to my wife the truth about the lighthouse. 

It caused me to reflect the things which I seek.  Jesus tells us “seek, and you and will find.”  While He isn’t referring to a lighthouse, He is referring to something we can find – Himself.  My failed lighthouse attempt led me to think about the time and energy I put into seeking to learn more about my faith in Christ and my relationship with Him. 

Christ promises, “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”  This is the promise our school enables our students to find.  My prayer this school year is we have the wisdom to discern those things we should seek and our students continue to grow in the abundant life that Christ offers. It is important we not just seek after things we can find, but those things that are worth seeking.

Thank you for your support.