THE KEYS OF LIFE

I used to laugh hysterically when one of my parents or grandparents would walk around searching for their glasses when all the while they had them in a pocket or were wearing them. I did that just the other day right after I searched all over for my car keys and wallet. My glasses were in my shirt pocket but my keys and wallet were another story.

I had somewhere to go, though I couldn’t remember. I knew it was important because I wrote it down on a piece of paper I left somewhere on my desk. Of course, I needed my glasses to read the note I left on the desk. After walking around the house for about twenty minutes, the glasses slid out of my pocket when I bent over to see if they had fallen under the table in the living room. Then I had to use my cane to reach the glasses under the table where they just fell, but my cane was in the kitchen where I left it when I realized I had to meet someone for lunch and started to get ready to go.

I went to the kitchen and forgot what I went in there for but I saw my cane and remembered that I was getting ready to go somewhere. But where? Then I remembered the note and went to my desk and couldn’t read it without my glasses. Where were my glasses?

Oh yes. They slid out of my pocket as I was looking for them. I went back and scraped them out from underneath the table and put them on. I started back to read the note but turned into the bathroom instead. I had wasted enough time that I had to go after all.

When I came out, I felt hungry and went back to the kitchen to make lunch. I suddenly felt very organized as I got the lunchmeat and bread and something to drink out of the fridge. With my lunch ready, I sat down and turned on the TV. There was a rerun of the old Andy Griffith Show on; the one where Barney leads the loaded goat out of town while playing his harmonica. That was a good one. Who does not like those old shows?

Lunch was good and I was getting drowsy, like I do sometimes after lunch. Then the phone rang, breaking my peace and quiet. I got up as fast as I could only to find that the cordless phone was not where it belonged. As I started to retrace my steps to find it, the answering machine kicked in. It was the guy I was supposed meet for lunch.

That cordless phone is a good invention but it always seems to get lost somehow. I checked in the kitchen and stopped for a little desert. A couple of cookies hit the spot after that lunch. Oh yeah, the phone; just where could it be. Then I remembered that the base for the phone has a locator button. I went into the living room and as I passed the chair I had been sitting in, I saw my glasses. “Oh! That’s where they are,” I said. I did remember to continue on to the phone and remembered to press the locator button. I’m not absent minded after all.

When I pressed the locator button, I heard the phone ring by my phone next to my desk. I have no idea what it was doing there because I have a great rotary phone there. I love my old rotary phone. There are no batteries and it can’t get lost.

Oh, that’s right! I was supposed to meet a friend for lunch. Now where are my car keys and wallet? Let’s see; they were in my pocket yesterday when I went to the store. They must still be in those very pants pockets.

After digging through the laundry, I found them. I had my wallet, keys and my cane. My sunglasses and hat were by the back door so all I had to do was leave. I put my keys in the lock and put my hat and sunglasses on. Now where was I going? I went to check the note but couldn’t find my glasses.

Now I had to stop what I was doing to find my glasses, read the note and just then, the phone rang. I let the machine pick it up because I was late for lunch. Now where are my keys?

Eventually, I made it to my destination but my buddy wasn’t there. I had a few drinks while I waited and eventually went home. It wasn’t like him to not show up. I hoped he was okay.

When I got home, the answering machine was lit up. I had a message. It was him. He couldn’t wait any longer. He headed back to work. I missed lunch because I couldn’t find my keys. How aggravating is that? Well, I’m not hungry anyhow.

Then I remembered the key to enjoying life.

[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:24

My transmission may slip a few gears now and then and I may have trouble finding my keys, but the Bible always keeps me going. In the most troublesome times, I will always take time to praise the Lord, rejoice and give thanks for the things I do have. I have my keys and can still drive a car, as scary as that may seem.

I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
Ecclesiastes 3:12

There will be many more chances to go out for lunch with a friend. As bad off as I may seem, God is watching over me and He will always be there. I may not have a lot of abilities left, but I have the ability to spread His word and what better way to do that than over a nice lunch. Now, where are my keys?