Sunday, April 02, 2006

THE ANCHOR HOLDS

Have you ever read any books by Edgar Rice Burroughs? If you aren't familiar with him, he is the creator of the famous fictional ape man, Tarzan of the apes. He wrote several books as part of that series describing the life and the adventures of Tarzan. He also wrote a series of novels about Mars, among them, "Warlord of Mars", and "Princess of Mars".

The singular theme that stands out in all of his novels is a sort of an "out of the frying pan, into the fire" kind of thing. His heroes, Tarzan, John Carter, et al, constantly narrowly escape one seemingly impossible situation only to find themselves in an equally impossible situation, from which they somehow manage to extricate themselves. Over and over and over.

I often describe my life as much the same. I say:

"My entire life is an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel without the adventure."

Recently, I suffered what I believe is one of the most devastating blows I have ever had to deal with. I was deeply hurt, and humiliated, and traumatized.

It is during times such as this when I go to my knees and seek guidance and comfort from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe. God the Father. He is my salvation, my hope, my Comforter, my guide, and my anchor.

I am reminded of the words to a song, that I often listen to when I feel The burdens of the world weighing heavily upon me. They can be found below:



The Anchor Holds

Words and Music by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz
© 1994 - Word Music

I have journeyed through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea,
By faith alone, sight unknown,
And yet His eyes were watching me.

The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging seas,
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.


I've had visions and I've had dreams;
Well I've even held them in my hands,
But I never knew those dreams could slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand.


The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging seas.
O, the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.


Now I have been young, but I am older now.
O and there has been beauty these eyes have seen;
But it was in the night, when I faced the storms of my life.
Oh, that's where God proved His love to me.


The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas.
But the Anchor holds; O, in spite of the storm.
I said I've fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas;
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.



I find much comfort in these words.