“Finders keepers, losers weepers” was the summation of a life lesson that has some relationship to a child’s play. “It’s mine” are probably easy words for a two-year-old to express. In our culture, we learn early to be possessive and stake our claim. Learning to share can be a stretch for many two-year-olds. For that matter, the concept of sharing is an alien concept to many.
I’m of the mindset that life is better lived in community. I’ve always thought that “only children” were deprived much of the kinds of joy that I associate to my growing up years. Most of my childhood memories would have been non-existent had they not been shared with my brothers.
I know several folks who grew up without siblings. Most of the “only kids” that I know who are now in the midst of adulthood have more than one dog. Is that because they want more for their pets than they experienced as children? I don’t get it. I’m not exactly pet friendly. It’s not that I don’t like dogs. It is just that I don’t have a need to have one. I know it would be a “dog’s life” if I were the master. Pets tie a person down. I want the freedom associated having a flexible schedule. You can’t do that with pets and be a responsible pet owner. Of course, I know folks with more than one dog who where not only children, so my thesis seems a little faulty.
However, I will say this: “Shared laughter is more enjoyable than laughing alone.” In fact, doesn’t the merit of community and shared space play itself out in enriching experiences?
Last night at prayer meeting, we got off to a slow start. When I arrived one-minute before it was time to start, there was only one other person present. Another couple subsequently joined the two of us a little later and that doubled the number of folks gathering for prayer. Before we concluded the hour, our number doubled again and folks lingered after prayer meeting just enjoying the benefit of shared time.
A couple of folks who are providing special music on Easter Sunday provided a “dress rehearsal of sorts” experience for the others of us to enjoy. Of course, it was at my urging that they chose to do so. They really didn’t need the practice time. It was quality time for those of us hearing their music. I can hardly wait for Sunday. The music is going to be incredible. Actually, the time shared last evening was incredible.
So you’re probably wondering, “What does any of this have to do with ‘finders keepers, losers weepers?” Last night shortly before bedtime, the General looked in one of her desk drawers for something. I’m not sure what she was looking for, but she held up an object in her hand and asked: “What’s this?” Before she could complete the question, she already had the answer. It was the remote to our Apple TV. You have no idea how many times over the past four or five years we’ve wondered what happened to our Apple TV? Of course we weren’t thinking about the remote. It was the device itself. It had always been upstairs with the television. I’m not sure when we first realized that it was missing, but we looked high and low to find it. It simply wasn’t here.
Could we have taken it to church for some kind of media presentation? That had to be it, but when? We couldn’t remember. Did we loan the Apple TV for someone else to use. We couldn’t remember that we had done so, but who would take a person’s Apple TV without permission. No one that we could think of, but where was it? It was lost.
A couple of months ago we replaced the television down stairs and guess what? The Apple TV was connected to the back of that unit. How or why it was there, I don’t know. It was great to have the Apple TV located.
Actually, it wasn’t that great. It had the potential to be great, but without the remote, the presence of the device didn’t make much of a difference. Without the remote, the Apple TV couldn’t be used. We were clueless to even remembering having last seen the remote. We looked everywhere. Well perhaps everywhere but in the desk drawer.
“Finders keepers, losers weepers” was playing in my head this morning because of last night’s experience. Okay, so it is approaching three weeks since I’ve last seen one of my cell phones. I know where the charging device is located. Where’s the phone. That is the question. Perhaps only time will tell.
Then there is the issue of the other set of keys for my truck. They’ve been gone for a least two years; maybe longer. Does last night’s discovery of the remote give me hope that I’ll subsequently have that same kind of experience with my keys? Probably it does.
A wise friend recently said: “You will find them the last place you look”. Truer words were never spoken.
All My Best!
Don