Categories: life-and-musings
Date: 01 May 2009 12:45:44
Someone found some money sticking out of the cash machine. Quite a lot of money, too. I happen to know that if you don't take your withdrawal, the magic cash machine fairies suck the money back in, and it is recredited to your account. Apparently, not everyone knows this, so consider this today's Useful Fact of the Day™.
Anyway, the person referenced above did not know this Useful Fact,* and took the money and went on their merry way, rejoicing and praising God.
"I prayed for money, and there it was!" they said.
"I don't think God works like that," I said. Why yes, I am a reknowned spoilsport and wetblanket, why do you ask?
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in order to enrich you, someone else has been deprived of their hard-earned cash, possibly the only money they have to last them all week. I don't think God enriches Person A by causing Person B to have to live on Blue Dragon noodles and tap water for a week. Um. I think you need to take the money back and go into the bank and explain - they'll be able to reunite the money with its owner. Um. Err."
"But I prayed!"
"Yes, but God doesn't always say 'certainly, here you go!' when you pray, does he? Sometimes He says 'no,' or 'not yet,' or 'do you think we're made of money, and turn that light off!' Ooops, no, hang on a second, that last one's my dad, easy to get the two mixed up."
"Mumble."
"I think you ought to take the money back, I don't think it's yours."
"Mumble. Willyoucomewithme?"
"Of course."
So we went off to the bank and owner and money were reunited.
"I never thought of it like that," the person said. "I suppose it's obvious when you think about it, but even if you find a tenner in the street, in order for you to find it, someone else has had to lose it. And it was a lot of money. I'd be gutted if I lost it."
"And don't go thinking God will make your lottery ticket the winner, either..." I admonished.
*they do now, oh yes they do.