“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The red thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.” – Ancient Chinese proverb.

I came across this quote this morning as I flicked through a magazine while enjoying my morning coffee. It hit a chord with me, not only because it’s a beautiful sentiment, but because I happen to see a great deal of truth in the proverb.

I don’t think there is too much in this life which is truly predetermined. Our free will certainly plays a significant part in how our lives pan out. But, there are certain souls our soul is meant to work with, to help us learn and grow. By the same token, we are also here to help teach and nurture someone else’s soul. These people are our soul mates. Our free will may stretch the thread, or may tangle it along the way, but can never break it. The idea that those we are meant to meet will turn up regardless of time, place or circumstance means we can’t really get it wrong. We can’t make a wrong turn, or a wrong decision which results in us not meeting the people we are meant to meet. The red thread connects us and ensures we meet at the right time, at the right place – for both of us.  Not everyone we meet will be connected to us by this red thread, but those that are, are certainly very special.

All of the people who enter our lives are there for a reason. It certainly got me thinking about where my red thread has already been weaved, stretched and tangled, and thinking about where it may be weaved in the future. Who are the people in your life connected by red thread? What are the people in your life there to teach you about yourself? Even those people we find challenging are there to teach us something, so although it’s hard, we need to embrace those people and challenges too.  

Although the red thread can never break, it would seem to me that it should be taken care of.