Hearts that hang from fish line, like so many trophy catches, chime softly in the breeze.
But the strong winds of life are too much for the hearts to bear. With angry clanging, the lines twist together and strangle each other until the hearts become bunched together in silence.
When the storm passes, though a gentle breath of air may caress them, they remain mute with melancholy.
I untangle the lines. With both my hands, holding two hearts at a time apart from each other, I navigate the intertwined mess and slowly bring order back to the chaos.
One time, I was untangling the lines while holding a lit cigarette in one hand. The burning hot end touched the plastic string suspending a free heart, immediately melting it’s connection to the others. It dropped into the flower bed below and disappeared.
After this, the next time it came to untangle the hearts, I decided to try it with only one hand. I began the challenge and immediately became frustrated. Who am I to think only one hand can untangle hearts?
“You can’t do it”, I said to myself. I heard myself say this to me. I replied, “I CAN’T do it?! I’ll show YOU!” And then I darn well did it.
The hearts again chime softly in the breeze. The storms of life periodically mangle their links to each other, as will always happen so long as they dangle exposed to God and Everyone. But We can restore the sweet music, if only one of Us musters the determination.
