Sunday, December 02, 2007

FOUR ACES AND A ROSE

FOUR ACES AND A ROSE

Roger A. Davis

For Christmas 1999, I gave my beloved wife, Peggy, a custom crafted wooden box that held inside a Rigid single-bladed folder, four love letters (each represented by a suited Ace) and a single red rose. Following is the fourth letter, the Ace of Clubs, a love story for Peggy:


Once upon a time, there lived a knifemaker named Colin Cox. He was somewhat famous, advertised in BLADE, sold at shows, took orders and made some money. Yet, he wanted to make something no one else had and to do it well; not just well, but glorious. Many a day and night, he thought and thought, drew and drew knife sketches, but none would do.

His wife, Mary, listened, consoled and counseled, and cooked his favorite dishes. Yet, Colin didn’t want to do a folder, survival, hunter or Bowie again. He wanted dessert, the frosting on the cake, the cream that rises to the tops, a cherry – the crowning glory of the sundae of all knives.

On Christmas Eve, Colin had bagels and lox, then finished wrapping two ivory lockbacks for his wife and then went to bed. Since Colin had missed a lot of sleep and the Christmas program’s music of “Silent Night” was still sweetly ringing in his heart, he entered into a deep, restful sleep.

This is the dream he had:

There was a workbench of alabaster marble and tools that were of the finest quality. Upon this bench, in a small wooden case, lay four of the finest crafted daggers Colin had ever seen or dreamed about. He could not make out the maker’s name or logo. Try as he might, it would not come into focus. There seemed to be a small cloud obscuring his view. Giving up, he just basked in the glory of their beauty and art.

Then, Colin heard a small noise that was increasing in volume. It finally reached a level of understanding. The noise was a voice behind him. He turned around and there, on an old wooden scarred up workbench, amongst the mess of a sloppy craftsman, was a little clip point blade, 3 ¼ inches long.

The little blade (and it was only a blade; no handle) was saying, “Who are you?” over and over. Colin finally found his wits and responded with his name. Then, the little blade said, “Hi, I’m Razor Rigid, the best knife in the world.” Colin laughed, for it was an animated cartoon dream now, with a little talking blade named Razor Rigid, with no handle, just a short pocket knife tang. Razor demanded to know why Colin was laughing. Colin said, “You’re not really a knife until you get a handle on yourself.”

Razor started crying and tried to cut up the mess around him. Colin told him, “If you don’t stop crying, your tears will rust you and you won’t be of much use later. And your attempts to cut the mess around you will only dull your edge, for those are the tools to make you into a knife; not to hurt you, but to help you.”

Razor quit crying, wiped away his tears and stopped slashing out. He asked Colin what he was, because he only knew one person and that was the knifemaker of the four daggers. Colin responded by telling him his profession. Razor Rigid started laughing himself now and he laughed so hard, he cried again for joy.

Again, Colin silenced Razor and explained the rust situation and slashing problem. Razor told Colin that he was so glad because the other bladesmith told him that another would come and make him into ‘the best knife in the whole world.’

Colin thought to himself, surely the Master craftsman of the four double edge bladed knives must have had someone else in mind. His quest was to make the finest knife in the world, not some little 3 ¼ inch clip point folding knife.

Colin told Razor of his quest and of his many accomplishments - all the Damascus, ivory, oyster, D2 and other exotic hardwoods, metals and designs. Razor became very silent and the little hole in his tang rested. Colin thought, any moment now, little Rigid will cry. Yet, Razor was silent. Colin asked him why he was not crying.

Razor spoke, saying, “I have seen the Master Knifemaker forge those four best blades from fires of his furnace and I came from there also. He told me that I was his favorite knife on earth and I only had to have faith in His words and it would come to pass. So, Mr. Colin Cox, sir, if you want to make the best knife on earth, you’d better take care of the small and little things first.”

As Colin kept watch over the tiny Razor Rigid and replayed Razor’s words, a bud of faith started opening in his heart. “Maybe Razor is a test. If I take care of his needs, then I can move onto bigger and better knives.” Though not convinced, Colin made the choice to help Razor be all that he can be.

Colin decided, since he just finished Mary’s two ivory lockbacks and they were fresh in his mind, he would make Razor into one also. So, Colin announced his decision to Razor, who was as silent as a mouse, not laughing, crying or slashing. Colin asked, “Are you not happy and overcome with joy to know that you are about to become a knife?” Razor’s answer shocked Colin, for he said he knew that Colin still did not believe that he, Razor, was to be the Master’s best knife in the world. Razor finished by saying, “Mr. Colin Cox, sir, for who are you making me into a knife … for yourself and your glory, or for the Master’s glory and use?”

It was as if Colin had heard from on high, from an angel, for that bud of faith bloomed into a full bountiful and beautiful rose. Colin saw that his quest had been his only, not to fulfill another’s needs, only his own. His vision within a vision now was to become all he could be by being the Master’s apprentice.

Razor Rigid began to glow as if he was just coming out of the forge. It was because Colin Cox was glowing and was beginning to look a lot like Christ, Master Craftsman.

In the blink of an eye, Colin held Razor in his hands and fashioned a two side scale and bolster lining combination, a spring and a lock.

Razor quietly asked, “Am I a knife yet?” Colin answered, “Little Razor of Bethlehem steel, you are a knife now. Yet, to become all you have faith for, you need engraved bolsters and handles made by the Messiah.”

Razor said, “The Master said, if I believe in His words, He will provide. So, take that book over there. Those are His words. They will be my handles, so be it.”

All of a sudden, on high, a light coming down appeared. The bright current of light engraved the two bolsters on each side.

Colin then took the Master’s words, the book’s pages, and fashioned, layer after layer, the handles of His knife, Razor Rigid. Though the pages were yellowed with age, they formed a substance that will never pass away.

Colin looked at what had transpired. He held a knife that had been fashioned and forged by an invisible Spirit with his assistance. Then Colin prayed, “Thank you, Christ Jesus, for allowing me the privilege to make, with You, Razor Rigid, a knife for Your use on earth as it is in heaven, Amen.”

Razor Rigid shouted, laughed and, yes, repeated cried for joy, “Alleluia! Alleluia!” Colin smiled and agreed in his heart with Razor, praise Ye the Lord.

Then an angel appeared and said, “Little Razor Rigid of Bethlehem, the Lord of Lord and King of Kings acknowledges your devotion to Him. You will now receive a new name in heaven. You will be called ‘SILENT KNIFE, HOLY KNIFE.’ Silent Knife, you are going to earth now and you will receive another new name there. God is giving you as a gift to Mary Cox. She will receive a sign from me and four love letters. Mary will give you your name on earth. And Mary will teach Colin to be the best husband and apprentice to Christ, Master Knifemaker.”

The angel then told Colin to look at the four double edged daggers and to remember, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged dagger or sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Colin woke up to the smell of cinnamon cranberry juice a-brewing and a cinnamon roll wreath a-baking.

After breakfast, Colin and Mary opened their gifts. Colin really liked his Gerber President Set of Mark I and II daggers. Mary liked the ivory lockbacks. Colin noticed there was another package wrapped in plain brown paper, lying near the nativity’s manger, and suddenly remembered his dream.

Colin rose from his chair and presented the gift to Mary. She removed the wrapping and found it was a wooden box with a blank brass plate on the lid. Inside the box was a little paper box that she opened. There, lying inside, was SILENT KNIFE. Looking at the knife, Colin and Mary saw that it has been scrimshawed with four aces and a rose. Mary read the four letters, kissed Colin and said, “This is the best knife in the whole world.” Colin then realized the four daggers represented the Four Gospels, and the rose, Razor Rigid, symbolized that Love is the greatest gift of all. Then Mary asked herself, “What knife is this that rests in my lap?”

Reverently, Mary said, “It is Four Aces and A Rose.” Colin engraved that on the brass plate.

Peggy, Mary taught Colin how to love her and Him, as you have done for me.

Merry Christmas and to all a good knife!

~~~~~~~~~~

Colin Cox is an actual Master Knifemaker from Raymore, Missouri. Visit his website at http://colincoxknives.com/. He liked the early version of this fiction short story.

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