麻豆约拍

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Rick Hill

Good morning.

I鈥檓 a keen sea kayaker with a fascination for the wonderful lighthouses gracing our coastline. There is something comforting about knowing that they are there. I particularly like those which have the classic sweeping beam.

The long arm of light they produce was due to the genius of the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel who died on this day 1827. He may not have been the first to experiment with prismatic lenses, but he developed the eponymous ones in lighthouses. His design vastly improved the visibility of the beams.

I used to fall asleep in my bedroom which was illuminated by the sweeping beam of the Mew Island lighthouse at the mouth of Belfast Lough. In recent years it has been upgraded with a flashing Light Emitting Diode light and the old lens retired and put on display for the public to see.

I鈥檓 not the only one mourning the loss of the sweeping lighthouse rays. The iconic Portland light has also been upgraded to a simple flashing light.

I find it hard to imagine Fresnel would be annoyed. He was a scientist commissioned to improve lighthouses. That his technological advances have waited so long for a replacement is testament to his genius. I鈥檓 sure he鈥檇 be fascinated by todays LED lights. What matters most is the safety of mariners not my sense of nostalgia.

I love the use of word 鈥渓ight鈥� in John鈥檚 gospel, it sweeps from the prologue forwards until we find Jesus saying, 鈥淚 am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.鈥�

Lord, fill us with light that others might find you. Amen.

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