Storms, Boats and Anchors

When Covid-19 first hit our headlines, and then lockdown began, the idea that “we’re all in the same boat” kept coming up, time after time. Certainly, we were (and still, in a different way now, are) all in the same storm. The Coronavirus isn’t fussy about who it goes for, and has become an international traveller – albeit invisible! Nations around the world have all been affected, as the virus is no respecter of national boundary lines.

But are we really all in the same boat? Have we really all shared the same experience?

In England, when lockdown was introduced in March, there was an immediate division between key workers and those who were to stay at home. Many were rushed off their feet – those on the front line in the NHS, those caring for others, and those providing so many of the essential services the rest of us relied on. Others had the luxury of extra time, and found it wonderful, having time to spend with family and loved ones, get all those jobs done they’d been putting off, walk, read, exercise, paint, enjoy music, bake, etc. Others still had to adapt to the challenges of working from home, which was great for some people and a huge pressure for others, particularly if they had to home school their children at the same time. Some were lonely and isolated, while others were in crowded homes, desperate for some peace and quiet. It was also so hard for those living in abusive situations. Not to mention that technology has been a godsend for so many of us, but for those who don’t have access to the internet, or can’t use it, moving life online became even more isolating.

So, for most of us, our lives in the midst of the Covid storm have been quite different, and not a shared experience at all.

Now, as lockdown has eased, there are still a number of different boats – local lockdowns, fears, different interpretations of the rules, new challenges, and uncertainty as to what the future will look like. The situation is changing on an almost daily basis! As we go into autumn, the “new normal” is still evolving, and will undoubtedly continue to be a different experience. Some will be going back into schools, colleges and universities, in extended “bubbles”; some will continue to work from home; some will go back to their workplace – and there are many more options and combinations!

We’re weathering the same storm, but we haven’t all been together in the same boat. We’ve all had very different experiences. Yet what we do all share is the same anchor.  One dictionary definition of “anchor” is “a heavy object attached to a cable or chain, and used to moor a ship to the sea bottom, typically having a metal shank with a pair of curved, barbed flukes at one end”; another is “a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation”.

No sailor would consider setting out to sea without an anchor on board, and it’s the same for us. Paul tells us that “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19). When the Bible talks about hope, it’s as something that is solid, dependable and definite, not something vague that might possibly happen – in other words, a certainty, rather than a wish – and the hope that Paul is talking about here is Jesus. Whatever type of vessel our Covid boat is – large or small, easy to sail or incredibly challenging, set up for a solo sailor or needing a large crew and lots of equipment - each of us needs an anchor. Jesus is our rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), totally trustworthy (Proverbs 3:5-6) and the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Over the past few months, I’ve found this to be so true! Whatever the circumstances, Jesus is the best anchor we could possibly have, and there are no areas beyond his reach. Through both calm and storm, Jesus has always been there for me. One of the things I felt God was challenging me about at the beginning of lockdown was to be really careful about what I was feeding on, which was very good advice! In other words, not to focus simply on the latest news that was coming out, but to build in time to put my focus on God, and what he is saying and doing in these days. I’ve found him in the Bible, through intentionally spending time with him, through “divine appointments” he’s set up for me, through time talking to friends and family, time listening to encouraging talks and broadcasts while on my daily walk, time in prayer, and time in praise and worship, to name but a few. He really is the best anchor we could possibly have!

Let’s “fix our eyes on Jesus”, as the old hymn recommends, and put our trust in him, the one who calmed the storm when the disciples were afraid and he’d been sleeping in the boat (Luke 8:23-25). We can be confident that he will always be there as our anchor, whatever happens, and will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), but help us in every situation, as we go forwards, with him.