A good number of years ago two of three brothers, young teens, decided to explore the deep and forbidden caves that were part of their father’s property. The younger boy followed the older in a descent into the darkness. Bravado pushed them along. They gave no concern as to how they would get back up. The elder boy, swinging from an overhanging rock, managed to land on an outcrop. His brother quickly followed. Only then did they realize their helplessness. Without a place to put hand or foot, there was no way out _ up or down.
By late afternoon the father had discovered his two younger sons were missing. It took a few hours more for the father, accompanied by the eldest, to find the stranded siblings. Strong ropes were found, securely anchored at the top, and the oldest son was let down over the edge, to begin the rescue. With skilled hands he offered to tie a tight knot around the first of the soon-to-be-rescued brothers. With his pride already shaken the boy refused. He thought it better to use his own hands and hold on to the rope. “That way,” he said, “I can let go if things get worrisome." The men at the top of the cave started to haul him up. As he swung out, he became afraid. He tried to swing back but he overestimated his strength. Tragically, he died trying to get a foothold on the rock he had just left.
The youngest brother learned from what he had just seen. With a shaky voice he said to the eldest, “I will do everything I am told to do.” The eldest said, “Do nothing. Let me tie the tight knot around you. Trust the knot. Trust your father up above. Do not try to grab a root, or a rock. Just trust us.” The boy did just that. Trusting his father and his brother he was quickly hauled to safety.
