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The last event of the church picnic was the famed tug-of-war. In my history I don't ever remember being on a winning team of tug-of-war. Of course, I haven't pulled that many ropes in my life. The call came and I answered and tried to get as many people as I could on our side of the rope. We all lined up, young and old, short and tall, large and small, the biggest and littlest among us. It is always such a wonderful thing the way all sizes get included in these events. Everybody counts in a tug-of-war. We lined up in the sand of the volley ball court and there came the inevitable tightening of the rope. Everyone's muscles grew tense. Then came the cry: "Get ready, get set, PULL!" There was a surge of energy that went forth and then to my utter amazement, the rope was coming our way. We all went backwards together so fast we were almost falling over one another. The rope was going our way. It all happened so quickly. What a great feeling to be a winner. But then we realized that the other team was not coming our way with us, only the rope. They were also falling backwards over each other in he opposite direction. How could both sides win? The rope had broken! At a place right between the two sides, the rope snapped, causing both sides to rush backwards with that sensation of winning. Maybe God was trying to tell us something that afternoon in our rope breaking party. We are all meant to be a winner. In fact, the way God envisions the kingdom is that some day by God's grace everyone on earth will discover that we are all on the same side. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the tug-of wars between peoples world wide would end with a rope breaking? Then everyone would go home a winner.--H.S. |