A Lantern to Light Your Way

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Sometimes you get lucky and find a beautiful lantern on the side of the road. That's just what happened to me this Tuesday afternoon. This beautiful glass lantern was sitting with some other items in a pile at the foot of someone's driveway. Of course, I had to take a closer look. Much to my delight, the glass was intact. What a find. When I lived in Brooklyn, Thursday was garbage day for furniture. I'm not ashamed to say that many items in my home were picked from those streets. As the wise saying goings, one man's trash is another man's treasure. I have some treasured pieces in my home from the Brooklyn curbside. 

A Lantern is a device used to illuminate surrounding space. It can be portable or fixed to a place. It can be used as any kind of a light source, for signaling, decoration, in religious rituals or in celebrations. They are basically a light source (candle, wick in a fuel or mantle) enclosed in a container that protects the flame so the wind would not put it out, but light can pass through.  

In April 1775, Paul Revere told three Boston patriots to hang two lanterns in the steeple. These men were the church sexton Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling—the two of whom historian David Hackett Fischer suggests each carried one lantern up to the steeple—as well as Thomas Bernard, who stood watch for British troops outside the church.

Lanterns are first mentioned in the written documents by Empedocles of Agrigentum and by Theopompus, a poet from ancient Greece. There is also evidence that other civilizations used them that early as well, like Egypt and China. In ancient China, they were made form paper, silk or animal hide while construction is made from wood and bamboo. Simplest lanterns use candles as a light source. A candle is placed in a tin box or cylinder with glass panels and an opening or holes on the top so candle can get oxygen.

Lanterns are not always made of a certain material. Sometimes a person can be a sort of "lantern" to light your way. My brother, Kevin, is symbolic of that for me. He is a beacon of hope and a light in my life. He guides me in ways that I can't see, but his light shines on through all my days.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write short, poetic articles about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and daily life in and around Bay Shore. Please subscribe to my free newsletter that will be delivered directly to your email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To support the SLTN community, you can make a recurring monthly donation as a Friend ($5) or Advocate ($15). You can also advertise your business or event here. It's easy and convenient to do. I am also an advocate for people 60 and beyond. These years can be transformative, but they require focus, determination, and planning. I have a first Monday-of-the-month motivational vlog that is designed to inspire people to thrive as they age through knowledge and self-awareness. Please follow me on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.