Rubber Bands

Today I am thankful for rubber bands.  About 40 years ago, my brother Jim, and one of his friends, John Seagraves made a very long chain of rubber band.  They wanted to see how long the chain would stretch without breaking and one stood with the first rubber band at the end of our back yard and the other took the last rubber band and stretched the chain across the yard.  The chain sagged a lot and they asked me to hold up the middle while John continued stretching the bands as far as they would go.  I was still holding the middle when they both let go of their ends and the shock wave of rubber sprang back at me.  There was a little sting as the middle part of the chain recoiled and popped me in the face, and there was much more shock, disappointment and embarrassment.  I think I probably cried a little and learned a little.  My brother and I survived that and much more.  He is still one of those I call when needed and he is one of those who answers.  Rubber bands remind me that when I reach out or stretch myself with others I will make mistakes and sometimes find myself stung, shocked, disappointed or embarrassed.  I may cry at the pain and feel troubled, but in time I will return to my former shape. I can then stretch out again – perhaps a little wiser for the experience and able to stretch farther in the confidence that the hurt won’t last.