Keys
I was locking the narcotic cabinet at work when I looked down at the key in my hand. I never really looked at the key before. No one ever really looks at their keys, unless you are carrying a bunch of them and are trying to figure out what key you need at the moment.
If you take a piece of metal shaped in a certain way,put it in a small slot of a certain shape and then twist you can get into places. OK..It sounds pretty silly, but that is all a key is. A simple piece of metal designed to fit into a slot that has been designed to match. That is the system that helps to guard our homes,cars,storage lockers,bikes and narcotic cabinets. It just seems too simple.
I started to think about the whole subject of keys. Keys have long been a symbol of temporal power. You could tell who was in charge by looking for the person carrying a large ring of keys. (Now the person in charge carries about six kinds of electronic devices.) If you have a key to a place it means you have the right to come and go as you please. For example, I have a key to the pharmacy as does my boss. No one else has one. We are the only two people who have total access to the pharmacy.
It doesn't happen very often anymore,it used to be that when a city or town wished to honor someone they were given a "key to the city". This was a nod to medieval times when walled cities had gates that were locked at night.
Keys can also denote religious power as well. The papal coat of arms always has two keys one silver and one gold. The emblem of Vatican City also has two keys in it. If you look around Vatican City you will see all kinds of symbols with keys in them. Several other denominations also refer to a person with keys as having power over spiritual matters. (I singled out the Roman Catholic Church as they have more visible symbols.)
Keys can also be very annoying. Most people at least once have lost or misplaced a key and had to go through the frantic ritual of finding it. I've been known not only to misplace my keys, but also tend to lose locks as well. This year I've managed to lose two bike locks. I still have the keys,not that it does much good.
A key can get you into more than just a car or a building. If you have a key to a code, then you can find out what someone else wants to keep secret. If you type in a key word you can get information. If you manage to get the key to someone's heart you may have found a companion for life. The keystone in an arch is what keeps all all the other stones in line so that they can bear weight.
I looked down at the key in my hand again. A key may be just a simple piece of metal, but it is a very powerful thing.
Some information for this column taken from Wikipedia.
If you take a piece of metal shaped in a certain way,put it in a small slot of a certain shape and then twist you can get into places. OK..It sounds pretty silly, but that is all a key is. A simple piece of metal designed to fit into a slot that has been designed to match. That is the system that helps to guard our homes,cars,storage lockers,bikes and narcotic cabinets. It just seems too simple.
I started to think about the whole subject of keys. Keys have long been a symbol of temporal power. You could tell who was in charge by looking for the person carrying a large ring of keys. (Now the person in charge carries about six kinds of electronic devices.) If you have a key to a place it means you have the right to come and go as you please. For example, I have a key to the pharmacy as does my boss. No one else has one. We are the only two people who have total access to the pharmacy.
It doesn't happen very often anymore,it used to be that when a city or town wished to honor someone they were given a "key to the city". This was a nod to medieval times when walled cities had gates that were locked at night.
Keys can also denote religious power as well. The papal coat of arms always has two keys one silver and one gold. The emblem of Vatican City also has two keys in it. If you look around Vatican City you will see all kinds of symbols with keys in them. Several other denominations also refer to a person with keys as having power over spiritual matters. (I singled out the Roman Catholic Church as they have more visible symbols.)
Keys can also be very annoying. Most people at least once have lost or misplaced a key and had to go through the frantic ritual of finding it. I've been known not only to misplace my keys, but also tend to lose locks as well. This year I've managed to lose two bike locks. I still have the keys,not that it does much good.
A key can get you into more than just a car or a building. If you have a key to a code, then you can find out what someone else wants to keep secret. If you type in a key word you can get information. If you manage to get the key to someone's heart you may have found a companion for life. The keystone in an arch is what keeps all all the other stones in line so that they can bear weight.
I looked down at the key in my hand again. A key may be just a simple piece of metal, but it is a very powerful thing.
Some information for this column taken from Wikipedia.
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