Do Not Be Afraid, I am With You

The Story of the Keys

The old bridge that crosses the Arno in Florence, or the Ponte Vecchio, is one of the most amazing sights of the city. One of the strangest things you see there, are clumps of locks like the one above, clumped onto railings, or walls.

It’s a tradition, that a couple comes to the Ponte Vecchio, and together locks a lock on the bridge, to symbolize their love.

As my friend told me the story, I looked out onto the water, thinking: I’m in the most beautiful place in the entire world. Look at the sunset, it sets behind the mountains and falls gently on the calm waters of the Arno. The buildings shine or lay in shadow, and either way they are stunning. The air is crisp and fresh, and the streets are paved in cobblestone. There is something always to look at and always somewhere to go.

So what would make it even more perfect, other than someone to share it with? Why can’t I have someone to sweep me off my feet, follow me to Italy, and be with me for the rest of my life?

Because life is not like that. Life is not a romantic comedy where everyone is the star of their own love story. Life is a series of ups and downs, twists and turns, lessons learned or lessons ignored, never ending climaxes, and problems that don’t reach resolutions.

There are so many things that we don’t get to have in this life. But then there’s one that we do, one that trumps all the others… someone who laid down their life for our eternal happiness.

I learned a long time ago, that having a significant other is not the most important thing in the world, even if it may feel like it is when you don’t have one. Or even worse when you know exactly who you want, and you can’t have them for one reason or another. There is nothing more frustrating. But we’re never actually alone, because we do have someone, someone greater than any human being on this earth, that will never leave us.

I want to lock my love together forever with someone someday. But until that day comes, I have to learn to be content to be locked to the one person who will make sure that I am never alone.