April 18 – “A rope swing”

Here's one from a week or so ago, when Josh and his family were here for a visit.  Jachin took charge, as he usually does in those situations.  I think it's a first born, oldest cousin kind of thing.  He feels a responsibility to lead the younger generation into a whole new realm of possibilities.  This is the same guy who was struck with a brilliant inspiration the other day as he and his family pulled up to watch the Battle of San Jacinto Texas history reenactment.  He was obviously more than excited at this new adventure, and the electrical impulses in his brain were firing all over the place.  He turned eagerly to his little brother and suggested, "Hey, Micah, how about you be the Mexicans?"   Back when we had a full-grown, mature, huge pecan tree in our back yard … wow.  It seems like forever ago when the nasty tide of Hurricane Ike finally did its dirty deed and killed our trees.  We played the lumberjack and felled some of them ourselves, but that one we had to have chopped down.  OK.  Back when we had a full-grown, mature, huge pecan tree in our back yard, we had in it a long length of that heavy rope they use on ships.  Our good friend Rick got it for us, and one of the kids shimmied up the tree and wrapped it around some branches so they could have an old-fashioned rope swing.  We salvaged the rope, and it has been languishing on our back porch for a year or so.    So, Jachin took charge of the preparations.  The boys discovered the old rope swing, and Jachin's brain went into overdrive.  He remembered the swing that hung in the pecan tree.  His eyes raced to and fro, looking for just the right use of this new found treasure, just the right location for … There.  The deck.    Ordering Zak and Micah around like a little general, Jachin and his crew set to work.  That rope was heavy, so the first task was to haul it up onto the deck.  Once that obstacle was accomplished, all that remained was the hanging.  The end with the loop was dropped over the edge and lowered to just the right position, Jachin supervising all the way.  He considered a trial run right then, but suddenly he remembered some basic principles of physics and gravity.  He hurriedly ran upstairs to his cohorts and barked his next set of orders.  "Micah, you hold the rope here.  Zakary, you have it here."  Two of them and one of me, what could possibly go wrong now?  He raced back to the loop and cautiously draped a leg through, giving a slight tug of testing.  All seemed well, so he jumped onto the loop, all set to enjoy his new swing, held in place by his compadres above.  As the full force of his weight hit the rope, something totally unexpected happened.  He crashed straight to the ground, landing in a heap.  The two younger guys upstairs either couldn't hold his weight or, perhaps more likely, found something better to do in the absence of their fearless leader.    Undaunted, Jachin came up with another plan.  Returning to the deck and picking up an end of the rope, he began a series of twists and turns.  Around chairs, down the stairs, through the barbeque grill.  And to top it off, the connection guaranteed to hold even the heaviest weight around, he looped it through the rocking horse.  Perfect.    I'm actually not sure how well that one went over.  I think his squad grew tired of the game, or maybe it was some adult intervention.  But they rope remained for several days as a testament to a six year old's determination.  I have adjusted the rope since then, wrapping it around some deck supports, carefully storing the extra rope in a corner of the deck, and returning the old piece of wood that was the seat so even the old man could sit in it with a granddaughter on occasion.  But I noticed the last time they were over Jachin dropped the other end of the rope off the opposite side of the deck.  He told his Nana that now he had a rope of his own.  Indeed.   Micah 7:8 says, "Do not gloat over me, my enemy!  Though I have fallen, I will rise.  Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light."   Father, help me develop some Jachin-esque determination in my own spiritual growth.  Amen.