The Master Key & The Missing Virtue

I was in my hotel room one morning, working hastily on a document that was due in a few hours, when I heard a knock. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I ignored it. Besides, I figured the hotel staff would use the intercom if they needed anything from me.

I tried to sink back into work mode when I heard another knock. This time, I was unsettled.

“Who is there?” I asked loudly.

No response.

Then, without warning, I heard the unmistakable sound of a master key swiping, and before I could process it, the door was opening — in on me.

I panicked.

“WHO IS THAT OOO?”

The potter, flustered, quickly apologized. He explained that he thought the room was vacant — a check-out room. The receptionist had given him the master key to access the cistern in my bathroom, which was linked to another room. And so, with full confidence in what he held in hand — the master key — he swiped and entered.

It got me thinking...

There’s something about holding power that gives people boldness — and that’s not inherently bad. But too often, power in the wrong hands (or in unguarded hearts) bypasses protocol, suspends empathy, and skips patience.

If the potter didn’t have the master key, he would have waited longer. Perhaps he’d have gone back to the reception to double-check. Maybe, he would’ve called my room to confirm whether it was safe to enter. That simple pause could’ve given me time to prepare to receive him — and not be caught off guard in panic.

This is how power works in real life too.

When we hold keys — to people’s lives, hearts, resources, or organizations — we must be deeply aware that while power can open doors, only wisdom and patience will help us walk through them rightly.

Let’s talk about how to handle power — the right way:

1. Don’t Let Power Silence Discernment

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Discernment helps you read the room, listen for silent signals, and ask deeper questions. True leaders don’t just move; they pause to perceive. The potter assumed — because he could open the door, he should. But perception would have helped him act more wisely.

2. Power Must Be Anchored in Empathy

If power makes you forget the people it’s meant to serve, it has already corrupted you.
Imagine a world where politicians, bosses, even older siblings wielded power with compassion. Empathy forces you to slow down and see people — not just positions, tasks, or timelines.

3. Let Protocols Guide, Not Ego

Protocols exist for a reason. Systems, processes, and checks — they may slow things down, but they protect people.
When you’re in a position of power, don’t let ego override process. Follow due diligence, even when you have shortcuts at your disposal.

4. Patience is Power’s Proof of Maturity

Rushed power is often reckless.
There’s a deep strength in those who can build slowly, stay consistent, and let success rise brick by brick. When power meets patience, legacy is born.

5. Always Seek Accountability

Who checks the one with the master key?
No matter how powerful you become, build systems of accountability around you — mentors, friends, board members, spiritual guides. Power left unaccountable often becomes abusive.

6. Never Stop Building Character

Your title is not your character.
Your access is not your identity.
The real mark of maturity is who you are when no one is watching. If you keep growing internally, your power won’t rot you — it will refine you.

In Conclusion...

The incident in the hotel room was brief, but its lesson was lasting. Power is not evil — it’s neutral. What makes it meaningful is how it’s handled.

So, when next life hands you a “master key” — pause. Don’t just barge in.

Knock.

Wait.

Confirm.

Then enter, not with entitlement, but with honour.

Have you ever been in a position of power that tested your patience?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

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