Anchored to The Lord. By: C.C.

"As a vessel that has no anchor is tossed about by the wind, so our mind, when not anchored to Faith, is continually agitated by the wind of human opinions and doctrines." (St. Gregory the Great)

In order for us to not be tossed about by the wind of human opinions and doctrines we are invited to seek the will of our Heavenly Father. We must desire to be anchored to Him in faith. It is an act of our own will to desire this and it is also a struggle that we will encounter daily as we remain in the face of human opinions and doctrines. To remain anchored to the Lord in faith demands of us a continual return to the Father despite the trials and tribulations that we face as we journey through our daily responsibilities and tasks.

   The Lord is unchanging, He is steadfast, and He awaits us always with an immeasurable amount of love. Being anchored to our Lord enables us to live amidst these trials with peace and virtue. Living our lives of faith within the world faces us with many challenges and persecutions. We can often be blown about by the winds of various circumstances. We will encounter agitations and many emotions. We are human. By faith we recognize that Our home is not here and we can learn from the witness of St. Paul through his own experience of the constant thorn in His side ...

 "Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; For whenever I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 7-11)

 These 'thorns' do not go away. Faith in the Lord does not free us from the challenges of our earthen journey. It is not a quick fix solution; but, through faith and the continual anchoring to our Lord we, like St. Paul, can be thankful for the thorns in our lives. We can see the winds of human opinions and doctrines as an invitation to rest more fully in Christ. We can come to recognize that God's 'grace is sufficient' for us and that it is all we need to endure all things. Let us strive each day to remain anchored to the Lord with great faith. (CC)