LIGHTHOUSE
SERIES

Last fall, my father’s Christmas wish was for me create an artistic, visual interpretation of his favorite hymn, “Be Thou my Vision.” It’s an ancient Irish hymn centered around the thought of maintaining God as the fixed, unchanging focus and point of reference throughout one’s life. I’ve spent years doing landscape painting so he was probably anticipating I would work on an acrylic or oil painting. Instead his request pushed me over the edge to pursue something I’d been wanting to get into for quite some time, lanscape photography. In considering potential visuals to photograph that communicate this idea I decided to shoot Point Vicente lighthouse in Palos Verdes CA. Throughout history lighthouses have acted as critical, fixed points of reference for any sailor lost in the dark of night or caught in the midst of a raging storm. In such conditions one of the most essential things you can know is where you are in relation to land and safe harbor.

Life is the same. When life sends its most brutal storms or challenges your way it is critical to remember those things which are constant, dependable and immovable since these can act as a “point of reference” to help you navigate your way through.

For me personally these are faith and family. While I have seen my share of brutal storms I have also seen enough goodness and evidence to believe that the God of the bible is very real and is working to make good come out of even the darkest of situations. I’ve also been given an amazing family with which to walk through every peak and every valley. Faith and family, these are the lighthouses which have helped me navigate some my hardest challenges in life. If you find yourself in the midst of a storm, it’s my hope that this series will inspire you to reflect, shift your perspective towards what is immovable in your life and bring you some hope and encouragement until you make it through to better skies.