A silent call to discernment

“Nana, what is a foghorn?”

“A foghorn is a powerfully loud, low-pitched warning sound sent out from ships and lighthouses to warn nearby vessels of impending danger during times when visibility is poor due to fog.”

Mikey considers his Nana’s answer carefully while he studies the picture in the book on his lap.    An intense frown appears on his little seven-year-old face.  It has become a recognizable unique trademark of his agile mind interacting with his tender heart.  Nana never dumbs anything down for him, because, unlike some other adults, she appreciates his above-and-beyond ability to process detailed facts just like adults do.  However, she is also just as familiar with the devastation when his gifted mind disconnects from his fragile inner being.  Nana observes the signs of “something brewing”, but she leaves Mikey enough room to express himself.

“So, these ships and lighthouses can warn other blind ships nearby to not come too close? So that they don’t collide and crash?”

“Yes, my sweetheart, that is correct.”

“And fog is just water in vapour form, right, like steam?”

“Yes, my sweetheart, it happens in the air closest to the ground when the temperature drops low enough for the moisture to condense and form a haziness that hangs around in the air.”

Nana can see that Mikey’s cognitive core processors are running at prime speed.  She decides against offering him the option of watching an episode of The Chosen with her as to not distract him at this time.  While allowing him sufficient time for this processing, she watches him carefully, and at the first sight of a possible disconnect, she walks over and takes the seat right next to Mikey.  With the tears welling up in his little eyes, he looks to his Nana.

“But Nana, what if the ship sounds it’s foghorn to ask for help, because the crash is happening inside and not outside?  And, what if, it is not fog, but tears?”

Nana recognizes that the siren of Mikey’s foghorn is different.  It is not a warning, it is a cry for help.  She holds Mikey in her embrace while she reminds him that on this broken side of eternity, all of us are exposed to inside and outside crashes, even when we blow our foghorns.  She reminds him of his unrestricted access our eternal Lighthouse, Jesus.  He is the only Tower where we can run to anytime, day or night, when our calls for help remain unanswered and other ships crash into us despite our warning.  This is the ONLY place to be safe.  Nana realises that she, too, needs that reminder, here and now.  Then she prays silently…for Mikey….for all her loved ones…and for discernment to hear and pay attention to everyone whose foghorns blow differently during this season.

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬