The persistence of karma 

2005-07-22

I’ve learned an interesting lesson about karma lately. I’ve learned it has a long reach and actions taken long ago can follow you down through the rest of your life.

By coincidence, there is a person working for the city that knew my youngest sister in high school. They had been in the same group of friends. Best friends. One day, for reasons I don’t know, the rest of the group decided to exclude youngest sister. She was crushed. That I am aware of the incident at all is a testament to the intensity of my sister’s feelings. I was a freshman in college at the time and had an older sister’s indifference to the goings on in a younger sister’s life.

On my first day in this job I introduced (re-introduced?) to this person. It was all I could do keep from snarling at her when I realized who she was. I may forgive something done to me, but mess with one of my loved ones and I’ll never forget. However, I maintained my composure and was, and continue to be polite.

Because I have an interest in antiques it was several times suggested that I talk to her. I said no, one time tersely enough for someone to ask why. When I explained my feelings stories about her started to seep out of the woodwork. She’s not that well thought of by her coworkers, and has some rather odd stuff in her personality makeup.

I feel kind of bad, gossiping like that, but I also find it interesting and disturbing. An action taken many years ago can follow you and affect how people see you. I wonder what kind of things I have done that will haunt me that way.