The Lighthouse Brigade

On a distant continent, there is a long and lonely stretch of seacoast where treacherous rocks and dangerous currents lie not far offshore, and sudden storms would arise to make it all the more perilous.  Often ships passing through the area came too close to the rocks and found themselves driven against them with such force that the vessels were destroyed and sunk.  Over the years many sailors and passengers went to their deaths.

In the nearby Rockland community, the residents were a good and hardy people who determined that they would band together to rescue these victims.  “The Lighthouse Brigade”, as they called themselves, committed themselves to the work, determined how everyone could best contribute, gathered such equipment and boats as they needed, pooled their resources, and cooperated as a band of brothers and sisters to get it done as best they could.  They  tended to the lighthouse, and they constructed a simple and practical facility as a base for their work, one that suited their original mission.  Over the years, they unselfishly risked comfort and sleep and even their own lives to rescue the drowning and dying.  They saved so many lives, they became very famous.  Everyone thought it was such a good and humble and unselfish and worthy work, and many wanted to be a part of it.  They wanted to carry the idea to other locations and make it work there too.  Before long there were Lighthouse Brigades in four other locations in the region. 

But as the Lighthouse Brigades grew more popular, things began to change.  Their standing and reputation in the community would be increased if they had a nicer facility – one that suited the modern culture a bit better.   They could grow more and afford more programs if they added some conveniences and comforts.  And they could have training classes and programs there on brigade growth!  Of course, they needed more “outreach” so maybe child care, a play room, and a coffee shop.  Don’t forget the gym!

Once they had a nice facility, the Brigade members really did enjoy coming there, talking, sharing, hugging, eating together, having a good time.  And the training classes were really going well.  They grew and prospered.  They hired a “full-time” director who could lead the Brigade to greater and more effective programs.  A professional expert, well-educated. He could lecture, go to seminars, do public speaking at Rotary, and find out the latest growth strategies.  Soon they started the Lighthouse Brigade Area-Wide Conference.  All the Brigades got together once a year and lectured to each other and planned new programs, and enjoyed “fellowship”.  Other activities were planned, facilitated by the conference.  Area-wide softball tournaments so all the Brigades could spend time together.  They bought buses for road trips (and Opryland) to promote the unity and uniformity of all the brigades.  It was grand.  Eventually, with leadership from all of the professional expert directors, they established the “Lighthouse Brigade Fellowship Association”.  They organized it, built a headquarters building, and hired a staff for the Association management.  The association collected dues from all the brigades; they could work more efficiently that way.

Back at the original Brigade location, problems began to surface.  Between the regular classes, the meals, the conferences, the games, the special programs, and all the other activities, the schedule was really full. They hardly had any time to go out and rescue people.  Maybe the Brigade should just stop rescue work themselves, and have someone else do it.  It would be simpler to contract with professional rescue crews with all the right training and equipment, etc.  They could just pay a little money and it would get done.  Same thing, right?  Yes, that is just what they did.

But when the crews brought in survivors, it was really a challenge. They were cold and dirty and wet, injured and sick, and it really made a mess of the nice Brigade building, and some of the members resented it.  It just led to so many problems.  And one time they had someone who actually died before they could get help – right there in the Brigade fellowship hall!  Blood all over.  How could one enjoy the Brigade fried fish fellowship, with the memory of that?  Many members just decided it was not worth it.  These rescue efforts were really getting in the way of the fellowship and destroying their beautiful building.  They favored stopping this rescue work altogether.  Besides, they were deep in debt – building payments, experts’ and staff salaries, association membership fees, bus payments and maintenance, liability insurance, etc.  They had to cut back somewhere…

Bro. Justice, an elderly man, a member of the original Lighthouse Brigade, rose up to speak.  He was weak and feeble, but he gently reminded them that their primary mission when they started was to save the lives of shipwrecked people.  He spoke through tears to challenge them.  He suggested they should disband the association, because it had nothing to do with their original purpose.  He argued for dismissing the expert director and terminating the contract of the professional crews, insisting that this was the members’ work, not someone else’s.   He proposed that they sell the big fine grand building and the buses, and try to get out of debt.  He said they should stop worrying about what other Brigades thought, gather their own equipment, put on their own work clothes and be ready for service.

Most were ashamed.  They agreed with Bro. Justice.  But the Brigade leaders were adamant.  They had so much invested!  They couldn’t lose all that.  Rather they called Bro. Justice a legalist, a crank, backward, not keeping up with the times, and with the latest Brigade management practices.  He had no real education in brigade management, had not even been to one Association Brigade Growth Seminar. What would the world think if they abandoned all this? They branded Bro. Justice as a trouble maker who didn’t really belong in the Brigade.  They would be better off without him.  So he, with a small group of members, reluctantly began again with their life-saving efforts in a nearby location in Rockland, across the tracks.  They worked quietly, struggled financially, and began again to save the lives of shipwrecked people. 

But the word got around throughout the Association about Bro. Justice.  “Did you hear what happened up in Rockland? Big split! Bro. Justice split the Lighthouse Brigade!  A dangerous man!  Don’t invite him to speak!  Don’t go hear near them!  They are not the true brigade!  We are the original!  Quarantine him and any who associate with him…  They will never make it – they will dry up and die…

“But you are a CHOSEN RACE, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, a PEOPLE for GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of HIM who has called you out ^[1] of darkness into His marvelous light”  I Pet. 2:9