THE ROPE
The rope was strong. Strands of fibre, thickly twisted, resembled the rippling muscles of a prize fighter. And this rope was using all the strength it contained to resist the opposing forces on each end of it. The strain was threatening to snap it into two, to divide the two opponents from each other forever with a great chasm impossible to close.
The rope was love. The rope had withstood many strains before. Some conflicts had almost broken it, but never succeeded. Always love had been the victor.
But this time, even though the strong rope of love was now as thick as a wrist and much stronger than in previous years, the threat of snapping was evident. The threat was real.
Each opponent was fighting for survival, fighting for something they could not let go of, knowing they could not live with themselves if they let go of what was essential to their being. Oblivious to the strain upon the rope, their faces were streaked with sweat and lines of intense effort. Sweaty hands slipped a little on the rope and the opponents became even more distant and detached from one another as they fought for their existence. Fierce concentration, intense focus on the battle between two wills drove other concerns aside. Dirty dishes piled up on the counter, the kids went to friends’ homes, and the phone was unanswered. No other person seemed to exist for them, so intense was the conflict.
The rope would not give. The rope kept its integrity. It was getting frayed at the edges, but the core remained intact. The core of love had been forged by the One who is love. It could not, would not succumb to outside forces.
Each opponent held firm to their strong belief. One would take a fresh grip on the rope and yank, not wanting to let it slip; they could not walk away in defeat and despair. The other opponent also gave a great tug and took a firmer grip further up the rope. Gradually, pulling and gripping ever more strongly they came closer to each other, refusing to give in. Close enough to eyeball each other, now, one was able to see the fear written in the other’s heart; fear was the reason he would not, could not accept defeat. And, he was now close enough to see the panic in the other’s heart.
Understanding began to flow from one to the other. They understood each other now, yet each could not let go of what was vital to their existence.
The job of living life still had to be done. But how? With so much fear, how can life be lived?
Together they tackled the task that had been dividing them. Recognizing the other’s fear, there was a way to accomplish this work. The fear was real. They named it. This nebulous feeling became solid. It was a force to be reckoned with. They understood both the truth and the lies that their fears were founded on; and they were able to get to work and do the necessary work of living. Then, and only then did the panic begin to subside.
The rope was intact, frayed at the edges but strong, invincible to the end.
