There once was a man of small stature with an ordinally basic one tracked mind. He went through life not seeing people. A little girl dropped her lollipop in front of his foot at the bank. He stepped on it without being aware and went on to the next available cashier. The girl cried to her mother and was properly soothed, yet the man passed right by on his way out the door without notice.
His wife went into to get a biopsy of a lump growing on her neck. During the biopsy, he had forgotten, he called for a ride home from the airport.
Years went on and many stories unfolded right before him. He was oblivious. He did know however, when it was his birthday or if an attractive girl noticed him. He could see some things.
By and by the man grew old and soon his children did not visit, for he had forgotten their children's interests and ages.
The man was lonely, he did not like to be alone. He demanded visitation and basked in the superficialities of meaningless chatter as his grown children kept track of the clock.
The clock went on with no attention to the man. It was as if time did not see him. He became ill and ready for death. He went to the floor and kneeled, his senses keen and aware of every word he would pray. He was special and the good Lord would surely be glad to have him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, God listens and waits.
A shiny red ruby was placed before the gate in wait of the man. This ruby was like the one his daughter had lost years before at a park. She had imagined it to be so many things that to her it had taken on a life of it's own. She had begged her father to look under the teeter -totter with hopes they would find it. But he was not cognizant of her distress and feelings of loss over the beloved jewel. He simply told her he'd buy her another one and looked toward the car to go home. He did not see that it could not be substituted, nor did he value the promise. She never forgot.
The man approached the gate with the focus of everlasting life, but he had avoided the ruby. He saw it out of the corner of his left eye, but quickly changed it into something else in his mind. A piece of sequins from donated dance costume in a thrift shop that was what it became in an instant without thought.
Needless to say, when arriving at the gate he did not get in. He will never know why.
