Newspaper - Words for Sunday 22 March 2026
24/03/26 17:36
An Anchor in Rough Seas
The anchor, not the cross, was a very beloved symbol for the early Christians. Until 312 AD the cross was only rarely used. So why an anchor? The early Christians were back then a minority - much-hated and persecuted. Even in good times life was for them uncertain and not easy. But their hope in Jesus gave them a hold as it says in the letter to the Hebrews 6:19 in the Bible: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Currently a lot is happening that can and should be unsettling. Last year I was speaking to a young mother, who lived in fear and had psychological problems because of politics and the world at war in which we live. She no longer believed in God or the church and she went to counselor to somehow regain some trust in the future.
To no avail! In our amiable and intensive conversation about God and the world I could not give her any consolation. I told her only that she had reached the logical conclusion: Without God this world is depressing. We can do and control very little. Many good people give everything to make the world a better place but most just try to suppress everything and make the best of things. Fear permeates our society, people need an anchor, a hold in rough seas, hope that somebody good has control over the future. They clutch at straws instead of clutching an anchor.
The early Christians recognized what we need today - a firm and secure anchor for the soul. An anchor does not make the storms go away so that everything is calm. But it gives us a hold and hope that we will pull through. This anchor is near but one must embrace it and hold on.
Randall Smelser
Preacher of the Christ Community Peine-Stederdorf
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