Replace the Rope

      There is a story about a monastery in Europe perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in the air.  The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their strength.  Obviously, the ride up the steep cliff in that basket was terrifying.
   One tourist got exceedingly nervous about halfway up as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed.  With a trembling voice, he asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope.  The monk thought for a moment, and then answered, “Whenever it breaks.”
     Is there anything in your life that needs changing?
     Change it NOW! Don’t wait for it to break!

--Source unknown

- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com