1. The Blue Mussel
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast...Hebrews 6:19

2. The blue mussel lives in the northern waters of the oceans
The blue mussel lives in the northern waters of the oceans. They live in dense colonies called mussel beds. When the tide comes in, the animal partially opens its shell and takes in water to filter food from the water. They resist dehydration during low tide by tightly closing their shells.

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5. It can withstand great temperature extremes, including freezing, excessive heat, and drought. It a blue mussel is left exposed to air when the tide goes out, it survives by passing air over its moist gills to breathe.

6. Mussels have growth rings which show their age, and full maturation takes one to five years.

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8. What is most interesting about the blue mussel is its ability to securely attach itself to almost any substrate by a strong, thread-like anchor called a byssal thread, and it can move as water levels necessitate by cutting the anchor and making new attachments.

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Here is a time-lapse of 6 hours compressed to 37 seconds of blue mussels interacting
and feeding.

10. We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Priscilla J. Owens