Anchors

This morning the sermon by my friend Bob Goulart was based around Acts 27:27-44. He did a fabulous job, as always, and God really spoke to me during it. It was perfect as surgery looms in the near future. I know many people around me are dealing with a lot right now - cancer, parents with cancer, sick children, injuries causing pain. I look at those people and have a hard time justifying my fear of my surgery while people around me are dealing with life threatening issues, so I do my best not to think about ME. But I know with my surgery, if it is not done, it will cause problems down the road that could end up in serious, unrepairable issues with my upper jaw. This is a major surgery looming ahead, coming up fast and furiously.

Bob spoke how we are given "anchors" in our lives, just as Paul was given anchors as he sailed towards Rome. Ever since church was over, I have been thinking about these anchors: strength, unity, renewal, reality. I know I am beginning to drop these anchors around me. Right now, the most prominent anchor to me is the one of reality, mainly because I finally spoke with someone in my surgeon's office on Friday to get some dates set up, and because of my braces.

The First Anchor: Strength

I know this is the most important, and that is the anchor of strength from faith in Jesus Christ. I firmly believe there is a plan for everything, and I know there is a plan in this, in me. Sometimes we don't rely on the anchor of strength through faith unless we are facing a trial, because this anchor should be down all the time. Anchored fully in Christ with everything.

The Second Anchor: Unity

The second anchor is unity - the people we have around us - that GOD has placed in our lives. The people we rely on no matter what, especially in trial but in good times as well. I am blessed continually by this anchor - through the laughter and support of my wonderful friends; and the constant of my family. As the last few months/days before surgery draw closer, I am going to need this anchor more and more. In the days after surgery, I am going to need this anchor more than ever.

The Third Anchor: Renewal

This is the anchor I need to continue to work on, as it is the hardest for me. Renewal in God's written Word. I am constantly renewed by music, by the people around me, but I need to be more anchored in God's Word. I have been doing better, but I have a long way to go on this one. This anchor needs to definitely be built up. Please pray for me in that.

The Fourth Anchor: Reality

I said earlier, this anchor is dropping, and the anchor of reality is definitely bringing this ship to a screeching hault. I have been in braces for going on 9 months. Major changes are taking place in my mouth - teeth moving together, bite alignment is basically gone. I am finding it hard to say some words, and as a speech-language pathologist, this is a big deal. A definite reality is, at some point during all this, I may not be able to verbally communicate, and that reality is hard to grasp. I had surgery in 2005, but haven't had anything close to what I am going to have since 1998 and 2001 - that is a LONG time ago. Medical advances have greatly improved - heck they are about to grow bone in my FACE....but the reality of this kind of surgery is starting to freak me out. If you're around me a lot, and I seem down, this is probably why, the reality. I haven't had a surgery of this magnitude in almost 10 years. I dread anything to do with my hip. I dread being put to sleep, and I dread (and rejoice) waking out of the anesthesia. At this point, the previous 3 anchors must be completely dropped.

And in all of this I find there is purpose. What purpose? I have no clue. I have always thought the cleft lip/palate led me to be a speech-language pathologist. Someone asked me one time how do I have the attitude about all of my surgeries that I have. One word: God. Second word: Purpose. There is purpose in this, and beyond this - the Glory of Jesus Christ.

Back when I was finishing graduate school, The Purpose Driven Life was really popular. A friend of mine cross stitched a poem by Russell Kelfer that is in one of the opening chapters of the book.

You are who you are for a reason.

You're part of an intricate plan.

You're a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason

Our God made no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You're just want he wanted to make.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy,

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,

You've been formed by the Master's rod.

You are who you are, beloved,

Because there is a God.