The Keys

Pre-Pandemic

I pull into the gravel parking lot a couple blocks away from my office. As I walk toward my building, I see an older gentleman fall in the street.

He says, “I’m okay. I’m okay.” He seemed embarrassed so I let him be and continued on my way.

After a short while in my office space, I realize I left my phone in the car. I head back to the parking lot on the same path. Alas! What do I find but a large set of keys at the exact location of where the gentleman had fallen.

And when I say a “large” set of keys, I mean a LARGE set of keys. There were house keys, boat keys, shed keys, skeleton keys, you name it; this key ring had it.

I stare down at the keys. This is a conundrum.

· If I take the keys and he comes back searching for them, they won’t be there.

· If I leave the keys and someone else takes them, he’ll surely never find them.

I decide to take the keys to our receptionist. But first I tell her the whole story of this poor soul who lost his keys. And what an awful day he was probably having because he can’t drive his car or get into his house. . . or his shed. It’s going to take him years to replace all of these keys. My heart aches for him.

Our receptionist says, “Okay…I’ll put them here in this top drawer in case he comes by.”

I go about my business, but can’t stop thinking about him. I keep one eye out the window.

Early afternoon. A team member stops for our meeting together. We decide to meet outside. As we head to the front doors, I see him!

I see the fellow who lost his keys – walking down the sidewalk toward our building!

“Ack! That’s him!” I blurt out!

“Who?” She says, confused.

“The guy who lost his keys!” I yell jubilantly.

“Let’s get him,” she says as she bolts out the front door.

He’s now walking down the sidewalk across the street AWAY from us.

My team mate bolts across the street, yelling after him, “SIR! SIR!”

I am quick to follow.

We finally get right behind him and he turns around.

I say, “Sir! You lost your keys!”

He says, “What?”

I say, “You lost your keys this morning!”

He pats himself down, searching for his keys.

He asks, “Where are my keys??”

I say, “I HAVE THEM!”

We joyfully walk back to the receptionist desk, give him his keys, and go our separate ways.

This experience reminded me that miracles really do happen. We just have to be willing to pick up the keys.