Sin is like a suitcase abandoned at the baggage claim

One night shortly before the pandemic began, I flew into my local airport and stood waiting for the baggage carousel to engage. The fact that it didn’t budge for a good 15 minutes made for some irritated travelers. To kill time, I wandered around the arrival area and eventually stood in front of a glassed-in room full of unclaimed baggage. Here was the holding cell for lost suitcases cut off from all air, water, hope, and home.

An airport service worker in a neon vest asked if I needed help. “No, I’m just waiting for my bag over there, and I got curious as to what all these are doing over here.”

“That’s a good question,” she said. “You have to wonder if some of these people even want their stuff back. I think some of these have been in here for years. They just sit unclaimed.”