Gray Areas

Many Years ago, as a young man of 35, I wrote down a set of rules for myself. I decided at that time to let my faith guide me, but to also create my own personal moral code that I would strive to live by. The basic foundation of those rules could be summed up very simply as, “Always do the right thing”.

Sounds easy right? Not really. As I look back on my life, I can see that there were plenty of situations where I struggled to determine the right thing to do. Most of these troubling situations involved relationships with people because let’s face it, human beings are complicated creatures. But sometimes a question regarding right and wrong will happen when you least expect it, in a way that is unexpected!

I went to a Chase Bank a block from my house to get money from the drive through ATM machine. When I pulled in there was a fancy gray Porsche 911 in front of me. I guess the guy was having trouble because he got out of his car and started pressing buttons. He was taking a long time, so I started scrolling through my phone. Finally I looked up and he was gone, but when I reached the ATM machine, there were hundred-dollar bills going in and out in the cash input slot. The bills just kept moving back and forth, so I decided the guy in the Porsche must have been trying to make a deposit and the machine messed up. I grabbed the money, quickly made my own transaction, and then spent 20 minutes driving all over the shopping center looking for the guy in the gray Porsche.

I finally gave up and drove back to the bank. I spoke with a teller and asked her if the bank could figure out who it was that tried to make a deposit in front of me. She said that wasn’t possible, but if someone eventually a claim, they might be able to figure it out. I said, “Great! Here’s my name and number and if somebody files a claim, please give them my name so I can return the money. She said she couldn’t do that. She said I should give her the money. But when I asked her what she was going to do with the money if nobody filed a claim, she went silent. That’s when I decided to try to find the guy myself.

Two weeks have gone by now and no luck. Despite posting ads on social media and the local Coto de Caza website, and constantly driving around on the lookout for that very unique vehicle, I haven’t been able to find the guy. At this point I wonder if the guy even realizes what happened, but the question that bothers me the most is, “Did I do the right thing?” I don’t know, but what I do know is that every time I walk by and see that envelope of cash on my desk, it bugs the crap out of me because somebody lost their money. I guess if I can’t find the guy, I will either give the money to Chase Bank or to a charity.

Moral of the story. It has been said that “No good deed goes unpunished”, and I certainly believe that… because I have been miserable ever since I found that stupid money!

Whether the next generation is to be more virtuous than their predecessors I cannot say. But I am sure they will have more worldly wisdom, and enough I hope, to know that honesty is the 1^st chapter in the book of wisdom.

~ Thomas Jefferson