These people were living in the future tense, and this gave them courage to make the most of the present. They were not fugitives running away from home, or vagabonds wishing they had a home. They were strangers on earth because they were away from home, and pilgrims because they were headed home. They were able to endure sacrifice, suffering, even death, because they knew where they were going. One of the frequent Christian symbols found in the catacombs is the anchor. It’s a symbol of hope. “We