This year we determined to revisit places which we had only been able to visit very hurriedly last year. One of those places was Lyme Regis on the South Dorset coast. John wished to go on a fossil-finding guided tour and I to find out more about the Cobb – the 600ft breakwater that protects the harbour.

Built in the early 14th century of large boulders encased in an oak frame, the Cobb provided the only harbour in Lyme Bay – it had no natural harbours. Merchant and navy vessels used the harbour for centuries and it provided protection for the town, nestling under the fossil-rich, fragile cliffs. The maintenance of the wall – up until the 20th century, the responsibility of the town council - was costly as it stood against the bombardment of the Atlantic winter storms. In 1376 it was almost destroyed by a violent storm. In the late 18th century it was joined to the mainland and by the early 20th century reinforced with local Dorset stone. Today the harbour’s maintenance is the responsibility of the Dorset Council.

The materials used over the centuries to keep the breakwater in its present excellent condition form a mosaic of old and new blended perfectly together - grey, well weathered pitted dark grey rocks, yellowy sandstone and lighter grey white speckled granite, worn red bricks dotted here and there and small unevenly edged paths of shiny, elongated, narrow black slabs. Patches of concrete and tar finish the mosaic with a thoroughly modern touch. Uneven steps carved into the wall give access to panoramic views of the bay and cliffs and recesses hollowed out of the wall and a stone ledge to sit on provide shelter out of the wind to enjoy the views or eat a take-away.

As I walked back to meet up with John and learn about the fossils which he had found, I tried to memorise all the facts concerning the history of the Cobb and reflect on all I had learned from the walk along its ancient stones.

The Cobb provided a safe place. Storms buffeted it and shotgun blasted it. Within its calm waters though, it provided a work place – giving and receiving goods; a place where wealth could be accrued and distributed and from where people could travel to and from. Most of all, it protected a vulnerable coast line and gave refuge from bad weather.

I thought of how that breakwater represented what we needed – a safe and secure place. It enables us to to become what we want to be, living without fear and anxiety so that we can enjoy life. A place too where we can withstand and not sink when we take a battering from the storms that blow across our paths. So many situations create battle grounds, whether they be within us or amongst family, friends or work colleagues. Do we have a refuge where we feel safe - where we find peace within our souls and a strong foundation which has stood the test of time - a peace and strength that will last for eternity? Our faith in our heavenly Father and his Son, the Lord Jesus, can be as a breakwater for us. Do we guard this faith and our souls so that we can enjoy life, weather the bad times and find comfort in the sad times? Faith provides a safe haven.

Sometimes we can be at sea too long. Life naturally has ups and downs and can be busy from morning until night so much so that it engulfs us. We may become so overwhelmed by sadness that we sink into troughs of deep despair or rise into busyness to help us forget. Stressful situations may drive us to breaking point emotionally or physically. We can be so eaten up by anger that we become irrational, overbearing or ill. It is so easy to lose our way with devastating effect on those we love or work with, or on our friends whose company we enjoy. If we retreated to a quieter place we would find it so much easier to replenish the stocks, do some repairs or have an overhaul. It is not cowardly to take refuge. Far better to take time to think, reflect and find a better way than sink.

We need to find and preserve our breakwaters so that we can anchor ourselves regularly – as well as in emergencies. We have the opportunity to anchor our souls in the love of God. Spending time with him strengthens our faith. God can provide the anchor for our souls but the care of the breakwater is our responsibility. Jesus is the ‘Author and Finisher of our faith’. Time spent with him builds our faith - and time can be the most difficult commodity to find.

We will return to Lyme Regis to find more fossils and walk the breakwater. It will be a place where we can both appreciate the greatness of God in His creation and provision.