It was the key that did it

It was the key that did it.

I removed the broken portion out of the lock with a pair of needle nosed pliers. I have left the top portion on my key ring as a reminder.

I think that the key gave out and broke from metal fatigue. The same key in the same lock for more than 10 years. If I averaged 3 uses a day or so, that would be 10,000 times that key had been used to open that lock. That’s a lot of twisting and turning and torque on a little sliver of metal.

I had put the key in the lock and then the Distraction Team (Chaos and Entropy, my 11 and 8 year old children) distracted me, I looked back and didn’t pay any attention to what I was doing and it snapped off. Just a little metal fatigue. Mental fatigue.

We stayed out in the garage for a while until I remembered that I might have a spare key in the glove compartment of the car. It was a strange time. We were home, but we weren’t. We were hungry and only 5 steps from the refrigerator. We were cold and only 15 steps from the fireplace. Tired and only a few feet from the sofa. Frustration, yes.

I opened the kitchen door, and then we were home. Just like that. A strange little moment and then it was over. But I was over it. I had reached the end.

I have been trying to do too much this week. I spent this morning “skipping out” of staff meeting (why do they need me there? I am the most junior member of the staff) and canceling my meeting with my spiritual director. He understood. I am at home and got some rest. I may or may not go to church tonight – I am not teaching. I accepted the help from a friend last night and she brought me dinner. The 11 year old baked homemade cookies – and washed up. (And who doesn’t believe in miracles?) And one of my favorite people in the world – my 90(?) year old Pastoral Counselor Prof, who I count as a close friend brought me one of his “cooking experiments” – a vegetarian fried rice. (The 11 year old – better know as Chaos – asked what was in it. I said Tofu. The response is not publishable.)

My little kitty is sitting on my shoulder as I type this. Abundance does abound, And I am not in control. What ever made me think I was?

The key did it. Doors will be opened.