When I visited Ireland, one of the places that stayed with me the most was the Hook Lighthouse in County Wexford. It’s a striking structure — tall, weathered, and unshakable, standing guard at the edge of the sea.
It’s also incredibly old. The first light here was built around the year 800 by Celtic monks, long before electricity or GPS. Later, it was rebuilt into the structure we see today, which has been in service for over 800 years — making it one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world.
For more than a millennium, it has done one job: guide ships safely past dangerous shoals and treacherous waters. Storms, wars, political changes, even entire civilizations have come and gone — but the lighthouse still stands, still serving.
And here’s what struck me most:
The people who depended on that light the most weren’t the wealthy merchants or the townsfolk inland. They were the sailors — people society often looked down on. Sailors of the past were sometimes unwashed, uneducated, even serving time for crimes at sea. They were wanderers, outcasts, and often mistrusted.
But the lighthouse didn’t care who they were. It didn’t judge their past. It didn’t ask for credentials before shining. It simply did what it was built to do — offer light, safety, and hope to those who needed it.
We Can All Be Lighthouses
In many ways, we’re not so different from that ancient lighthouse.
No matter where we are in life — whether we’re young, retired, in the middle of a career change, or navigating personal challenges — we still have the ability to stand tall, shine, and help guide others.
And often, the people who most need that light are those on society’s margins:
The unhoused person others avoid.
The newcomer in town who doesn’t speak the language.
The co-worker who eats lunch alone every day.
The friend quietly battling addiction or depression.
The teenager who’s been rejected by family.
We may not be able to “fix” their circumstances, but like a lighthouse, we can provide something just as important — presence, consistency, and a signal that says: You’re not alone. There’s a safe way forward.
What Being a Lighthouse Looks Like
You don’t need a tower or a lantern to be a lighthouse. Small, everyday actions can shine just as brightly.
1. Be Visible
Lighthouses don’t hide. They stand in plain view where people can see them. In life, this means being approachable — smiling at strangers, starting conversations, letting people know you’re open to connection. A small gesture of openness can be a beacon to someone who feels unseen.
2. Be Steady
Sailors rely on a lighthouse’s consistency. In relationships, steadiness means keeping your word, showing up when you say you will, and being the kind of person others can count on, especially when things get tough.
3. Offer Safe Harbor
You may not be able to solve someone’s problems, but you can create a moment of safety. That could be offering a nonjudgmental ear, inviting someone to sit with you, or helping them find resources without making them feel like a burden.
4. Shine Where It’s Dark
A lighthouse’s beam is directed toward dangerous waters. In our lives, that means paying attention to where the need is greatest — advocating for the overlooked, speaking up when someone’s being mistreated, or volunteering time to serve people society often ignores.
5. Keep the Light Burning
Lighthouses require care to keep working — oil for the lamp, repairs to the structure. Similarly, we have to maintain our own mental and emotional health so we can continue showing up for others. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s what keeps your light shining.
The Margins Are Closer Than We Think
We sometimes imagine “the marginalized” as people far away from us, but they’re often much closer. The single parent struggling quietly. The elderly neighbor who rarely gets visitors. The friend who’s “fine” on the outside but overwhelmed inside.
When we choose to see these people, when we make space for them in our lives, we become a living lighthouse — not for the world at large, but for their world in that moment. And that’s enough. You never know how far a small act of light will travel.
Why This Matters
Life has a way of making us feel smaller as we get older. We may think our best years of influence are behind us, or that the world has changed too much for us to make a difference.
But the Hook Lighthouse didn’t retire when it turned 500. It didn’t say, “I’ve done enough — let the younger lights take over.” It kept shining.
We can, too. We can keep showing up for people, keep sending out a beam of compassion, kindness, and safety — even if we feel battered by our own storms.
Sometimes, simply standing steady in a chaotic world is the greatest gift you can give.
Final Thoughts
A lighthouse doesn’t ask who you are or what you’ve done. It shines because that’s what it’s there to do.
Each of us, in our own way, can be a lighthouse — a point of light for someone navigating rough seas. Whether it’s through a kind word, a consistent friendship, or simply noticing someone who feels invisible, we can guide others toward safer shores.
The world doesn’t just need more light. It needs more people willing to be the light. And no matter where you are in life’s journey, that includes you.