Knots in the Rope

All my life I've heard the expression, "At the end of her rope."  Actually, these are more than words to me...I've been there a few times, as have you....the. end. seemingly. nothing. more. to. hang. on. to.

I look at my rope this way...each knot is a big or small, but significant, life event.  That makes it an object of importance.  Who, but me, can determine that the plethera of wedding photos are no more important than the one little photo of me kneeling by his grave with a wreath in my hand?  And who knew the tangled mess owning a business could become...with ropes laid out so straight and clean in the beginning...each rope a hope, a dream...gnarled by the experience of untested business smarts.

Some knots in ropes are actually used to create beautiful art objects...that's modern, impressionistic, and interesting because interpretation is left to the viewer's moment in time.

Others are used in groups to create useful things, such as purses and wall hangings.  That's called mac·ra·mé.

The sails on a sleek and beautiful sailboat are held in place by the knots of a strong rope...but so quickly they can be released...that's their strength, in fact...the ease of slip-release.

My life is not so exotic or beautiful...plain, useful, genuine, long-term, interchangeable with the seasons of life.  And I've got a bunch of knots to prove that I've been around!  

These knots have sometimes looked very ugly to me - because I knew the dirty details, the pain, the tears of some of them.  But others are happy knots (silly thought) because of the events they represent.  Just like I used to think that each life event was a 'starting over' and I got sick and tired of 'starting over.'  Until...until I realized each was just another step in life...LIFE HAPPENS!

When I see climbing ropes hanging from the rafters in a gymnasium or a playground, I have to realize that the bigger and more gnarled the knot, the better for a footfhold...safe and secure for climing to the heights desired.

And so it is with my life, and yours.  Our old, grimy, discolored ropes of life are valuable.  And the more knots the better! How else can we keep climbing until we reach the heights of life with which we are gifted?  How high can I climb?  How secure the climb?  How purposeful the rope for the rise and fall of life events.  

I wouldn't turn in my dingy rope of knots for anything!!!  Imagine, having to start over with a new, clean, unknotted rope....O, NO!  My life has been wonderful, but I wouldn't want to redo any parts of it...once was enough.  So, I'll keep climbing and my foot will be steady and secure because of the life I leave behind with each step higher.

Right foot up, grasp the knot with big toe and h.e.a.v.e. upward; left foot up, grasp the knot with big toe and h.e.a.v.e. upward.  You see, the difference in our life ropes and the 'end of the rope' kind is that we're not descending down to the end...we're moving UP...and there is no certain 'end' because we keep weaving and knotting as we climb...

We'll never reach 'the end of our ropes'; instead, the upward movement keeps adding value to the rope and the climb.  The knotted rope and the continnum of upward movement is the Journey.  All along the Journey, we find the rewards of life, not the end.  

I can't figure out how to bring an end to this little essay....

                .........I guess that means I'm still climbing!