Being on the cruise ship for 30 days gave me lots of boat and ocean metaphors to dance in my heart. One of the strongest images was ANCHOR.
Three times the cruise ship didn’t dock in the port but anchored off shore and we “tendered” on smaller boats to the islands. “Tender” is another interesting word as they use the ship’s lifeboats to transport us back and forth from the boat to the shore and it is NOT often very tender to board these smaller ships from the larger ship with all the rocking and rolling of the waves up and down. Yes, they had several large crew members standing on both sides of us, steadying us as we entering the smaller tenders to head to shore. But it was sort of scary to take that step from one side to another on such uneven, precarious shaking surface! What an adventure. Like an amusement park ride thrill!
As we enjoyed our time on the islands the large cruise ship waited, anchored in the port. ANCHORED but not still. The waves slowly moved the vessel around the pivot point of the anchor changing the view. If you remained on the ship, you got quite the changing show of how each island looked as the ship slowly swung in the water. Anchored on one point, swaying back and forth.
The anchor kept the ship from drifting away and secured the ship close to shore for the passengers to get safely back on board. In addition, anchors stabilized a boat during a bad storm.
Last week I had a friend share with me after she had endured a very rough time she felt held by God and described it feeling like she was “anchored by joy.” Wow, isn’t that a neat expression? A sure foundation of love, peace and joy through a traumatic event.
As life batters us back and forth. Bounces us like riding in a rocky tender. We are held, anchored. We may still drift a bit but never far from the main point that God is near, ever steadying us. We may wobble, get scared at the jarring and unexpected movements of life but God is in control. God is our anchor.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil. – Hebrews 6:19
How is God an anchor for you?
Anchor image is really fascinating. And wow you were there for 30 days, must have been quite an experience. Wonderful Post! Wishing you a great day!
Rampdiary
30 days was quite the experience and almost like a retreat with time to think and ponder all God’s wonders and blessings.
I don’t know how far I would have drifted aimlessly in this life if I hadn’t chosen to allow God to be my secure and faithful anchor, Jean. What a wonderful image to reflect upon as we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus. He will hold us fast for all those days we await. Blessings always!
I think we all would drift aimlessly without God! and yes Anchor is a wonderful image to cling to.
thank you jean..how did you keep from gettin seasick???..30 days!!!!..
faith that there is a God and Jesus died for me has to be the anchor and keeps ya fairly stable cause theres just nuttin else..
peace
we didn’t get seasick at all. it was just too beautiful and relaxing!!
Praise God for the way he anchors our souls! I’m thinking of the ups and downs when our family moved five times during my husband’s 40 years in ministry. Emotions were in an upheaval as the process of packing and preparing to move often involved two steps forward, one step back. BUT! God would minister to us in sweet and tender ways, and he ALWAYS brought us through. Given time, each church became “family.”
God is the anchor and in ministry you certainly saw and experienced that!!