by J. Michael Byron
TV commentator Andy Rooney was a fixture on CBS’s “60 Minutes” show for years. While most journalists concern themselves with trivial topics like the economy or world politics, Rooney always tackled the tough ones like breakfast cereal and haircuts. The reflection I most vividly remember was a treatise about keys. Here’s what he said:
There have been two keys on top of my dresser for 10 years now. I don’t know what they’re for, and I don’t dare throw them away. Who knows? They may be important. I carry in my pocket a key ring with seven keys on it. Three of them are a mystery to me, but I don’t put a key on the ring for no reason, so obviously those keys open important places in my life. But where?
Rooney knew the human condition pretty well. That is one of the reasons he was so popular. After hearing his reflection on keys, I went to the top drawer of the desk that I have in my office. I found ten keys! One of them was even labeled “Inside Master,” but I don’t have any idea what building it’s the inside master for. I’ll bet I’m not the only person like that.
Keys — even the ones we can’t find an immediate use for — are precious little pieces to us, because we have all been on the opposite end of that story, face to face with a locked door or locked trunk or suitcase or vehicle with no key to be found. There is a little voice inside of us that keeps saying, “Throw this thing away now and you’ll be kicking yourself later!”
Wouldn’t it be nice if we began to value human beings with the same kind of reverence that we give to keys? If the thought of losing or casting aside people accidentally instilled in us the same kind of worry as do the same thoughts about keys? What would Andy Rooney sound like if we simply change the word keys and replace it with the words human beings? His thoughts would sound like this:
I carry with me seven human beings. Three of them are a mystery to me, but they aren’t in my life for no reason, so obviously those human beings open important doors in my life. But where?
Who are forgotten keys in your life? What doors you wish to open again?
- When have you met someone who seemed at first only to be a burden to you, but who later turned out to be a blessing or a treasured friend? Talk about it.