Battleship and the Lighthouse

By Dr James Dobson

In the official magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch reported on a very unusual encounter at sea.

A battleship was coming in for maneuvers in heavy weather. Shortly after the sun went down, the lookout reported light in the distance, so the Captain had the signalman send a message,

"We're on the collision course. Advise you change your course 20 degrees."

Minutes later a signal came back, "Advisable for you to change your course."

Well, the Captain angrily ordered that another signal be sent, "I am a Captain. Change course 20 degrees."

Again came the reply, "I'm a Seaman Second Class. You'd better change your course."

Furious by this point, the Captain barked a final threat, "I'm a battleship! Change your course!"

The signal came back, "I'm a lighthouse."

The Captain changed his course.

I don't care how big and powerful a person may become, it's foolhardly to ignore the beacons that warn us of danger.

They take various forms: symptons of health problems, prolonged marital conflict, rebellious children, excessive debts, stress that ties us in knots. These are the warning signs of approaching danger.

It matters not that we're successful and influential and busy. A little Seaman Second Class sits in a lighthouse somewhere and signals, "Change your course," and the wise Captain does so with haste.