I had a simple incident in the changing rooms at the gym that got me thinking about the human journey.
I couldn’t be bothered to secure my locker with a padlock as then I would need to carry the key, plus white cane plus towel. A combination lock needs absolute mastery if one is visually impaired. I just use an open lock so that I can feel exactly where my goodies are …more a marker than a make-safe.
Yesterday I arrived at my locker in a hurry only to find that some helpful person had locked it!
Thank goodness I had not been standing there in my swimsuit because I had to head out to the front desk to find an official with a bolt cutter. There were forms to sign (also not a great favourite for blindies) and items to declare ‘not missing’.
I thought about the Good Samaritan who had blessed me with this kind action. What was their story? Why was security of goods so important to them, and when had they had property stolen? Was it a cleaner, new on the job, trying to make a good impression, a passerby who noticed that this forgetful woman had forgotten to click it shut or … pranksters waiting somewhere to look on and have a little giggle?
Simple actions that seem kind to us, could be very irritating for others. Our own stories and life shape the way we act and react.
I chose not to be cross. In fact, it was quite an adventure. I got to be an accomplice in burglarising my own locker. We learned, by mistake, that cutting the one arm of the lock is less effective than cutting the other. Perhaps this knowledge will come in handy one day – hopefully not required at the Pearly Gates.
It’s amazing how one little travel padlock unlocked human perspective for me.
P.S. After throwing in a ‘Pearly gates’ comment, I went to check out the story. Well, yes, made of pearl (last book in the Bible chapter 21 vs 21) but, get this: ‘the gates are NEVER shut’ (vs 25). You can get in for free…if you want to. No St Peter with a clipboard and a cross face. So, those gates are also just visual markers. I love it!
