APPROXIMATELY 40 years ago I started to work in the public sector and at first I did not grasp the fundamentals of my job.
It gave me some money and satisfaction of financial independence. I was able to make a contribution at home and still had some money to enjoy myself. I no longer had to take whatever clothing my older brother no longer wanted, nor did I have to wear something until it had absolutely nothing left in it.
I was happy. I dare say I was very happy.
Made friends
I quickly made friends with some of my colleagues on the job and soon learnt the ropes. Within three years I understood the system relatively well. I also observed my seniors on the job and realised that there were perks and benefits, not written into any contract, nor ever negotiated around a bargaining table.
I worked in a department which dealt with supplies and saw my colleagues sample almost everything that came their way. So Ii was not surprising to hear some of those senior to me indicate that they never bought certain items. I was slow to get into the habit, but did indulge a bit.
Special liking
But six years after I started to work and two years after sporadically helping myself to a few items, I met a young lady who had been transferred to the department. I immediately had a special liking for and feeling towards her and chatted with her often. She responded with nothing more than a workmate’s friendliness. I quickly found out that she was a serious churchgoer. I invited her to the cinema; she invited me to church.
She never accepted my invitation; I readily accepted hers. I had never attended the Methodist Church prior to her invitation, but found it had many similarities to the church I grew up attending. She invited me again and I accepted. It was in November when I started going to church with her. At Christmas she asked if I would attend the special early morning service. I said yes. Big and bold, ready and eager.
She was going with her parents. At the previous services I would catch the bus and get there. This very early morning service presented a problem I did not think about before readily responding. How would I get there?
Well, where there is a desire and a determination, there will be a solution. I went to midnight mass at a nearby Anglican church and stayed at the church until the appropriate time to walk across to the Methodist church. I was on time. She was smiling and glad that I made it. She invited me to sit with her family.
Actually, I had to sit behind them as some other relatives were there and occupied the entire pew and a portion behind. She opted to sit with me. I felt proud. After church she went home and I walked to the bus stand and caught the bus back home. I had bought her a gift and around midday called to wish her once again an enjoyable day and told her of the present. I was not invited to lunch with the family.
When we went back to work after the public holiday, she told me she had brought me some of her Christmas goodies. Ham, cake, sweet bread and the like. I was grateful and showed my appreciation by eating quite a bit of it. Then she asked me how I had managed to get to the church on time, given I had no car and the buses where I lived offered notoriously poor service on a regular day and worse on special days such as Christmas.
Laughed heartily
On reflection, I was amazed how readily and quickly I told her the truth. She not only smiled but laughed heartily. By Easter she had thrown out another challenge when she invited me to a recital. I accepted and at the end of a delightful evening of music had to walk home, a good six miles.
In the meantime, I was still helping myself to a few things from the department as was the habit of virtually everyone in there; about 75 per cent of the staff. She asked me how I got home after the recital. Again I told her the truth.
She asked what was driving me. I told her she was. After about eight months of seeing each other primarily at work and even after meeting her parents and siblings, I had not up to that point even kissed her. She simply would not let me.
About two week later she drove to work her father’s car. Her parents had gone overseas and her brother was not feeling well and had stayed away from work; she had the vehicle. We went out to eat our lunch. She said she appreciated my honestly and sincerity; and the way I pursued her. She said it was good to be righteous at all times. She said she found one fault in me and that I would be the barrier to our having a courtship.
She knew I took some of the items like some of the other staff and she found it be wrong. She said I was being dishonest here and if I stole from the department, then I would be dishonest in a relationship. Her words jolted me. I had never seen it as stealing but following a tradition. And in any case, some of what I took I shared with many others, including the less fortunate in my district.
I made the choice there and then: I gave her my word that I would never remove any item again which was not mine. I wanted her more than all of the items readily available.
My two close friends subsequently asked why I no longer helped myself to a few things and I explained. They laughed at me.
The young lady became my wife and to this day we still live as a happily married couple.
I eventually asked for a transfer from that department and worked in a number of other areas where I was exposed to lots of items which I could take although they were not mine.
I made it through; now my wife and I are retired. I am glad that I chose to walk the right path. I must confess that it was only possible because of God sending me the right partner.
