Why Are You Carrying That Anvil?

A slightly built man applied for a job as a stevedore, which required hand-loading heavy items to docked ships. The supervisor was hesitant to hire him because of his apparently frail physique, but he decided to let him try.

The first day the little man was struggling alone to load a 150-pound anvil when he tripped and fell off the gang-plank into deep water. He immediately called for someone to throw him a rope and pull him to safety. After repeated calls for help with no response, he finally threatened, “If someone doesn’t throw me a rope soon, I’m going to drop this anvil!”

That tale elicits at least a chuckle from most people, but it depicts a truly serious situation in what many of us experience every day: that is, the heroic struggle to sustain onerous burdens that seem overwhelming to us, with apparently no help available, even from the Lord. If providential design seems to cause or permit our life’s burdens, then Jesus’ hint of help may sound almost like mockery: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).

When oppressed with problems, hardships and troubles on every side, it isn’t difficult to identify with David  in his depression:

I cry aloud to God,

Aloud to God, that he may hear me.

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

In the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;

My soul refuses to be comforted.

I think of God, and I moan;

I meditate, and my spirit faints. (Psalm 77:1-3)

We try to solve our problems by every means at our disposal. “God helps those who help themselves,” we figure. Then, when we exhaust our own means, we look to the standard advice: “If all else fails, follow directions.” And where better to look for directions than in that timeless direction-book called the Bible? 

This excerpt is from the book The Awesome Mercy of God, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Books. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408