Pennies
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This
is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story; Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the
husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very
wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the
very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest
restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance
again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking
slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long,
silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground
except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the
man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.
How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop
and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually
mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of
some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it
out for her to see.
She had seen many pennies before!
What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America"
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that
inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!
God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a
coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God;
that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.
I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are
plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk.
I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I
cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust', and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It
seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies
are plentiful! And, God is patient. The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails
-------- 4 given”.
That's the whole gospel message simply stated.
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This
is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story; Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the
husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very
wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the
very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest
restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance
again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking
slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long,
silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground
except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the
man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.
How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop
and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually
mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of
some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it
out for her to see.
She had seen many pennies before!
What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America"
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that
inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!
God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a
coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God;
that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.
I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are
plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk.
I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I
cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust', and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It
seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies
are plentiful! And, God is patient. The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails
-------- 4 given”.
That's the whole gospel message simply stated.
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a MorningStar Assemblage
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a MorningStar Assemblage
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Music: Memory
Ah yes, forgiveness . . .
. . . so misunderstood . . .
Forgiveness - the power that heals: to forgive others and yourself is an
empowering act! It requires that you sort out for yourself what you are
really doing – and what you are not doing.
The Effects Of Not Forgiving is Excessive Inhibition:
Holding onto hurts brings fixation:
. . . so misunderstood . . .
Forgiveness - the power that heals: to forgive others and yourself is an
empowering act! It requires that you sort out for yourself what you are
really doing – and what you are not doing.
- Forgiveness is not letting the other person "off"
- Forgiveness is letting yourself "off" - to end inner bitterness and
ongoing hurt and pain
The Effects Of Not Forgiving is Excessive Inhibition:
- By hanging onto your hurts, and inhibiting yourself, you produce
deadness; numbing whole areas of the body; inhibiting breathing,
movement, the flow of energy.
Holding onto hurts brings fixation:
- stunting growth; creating in you the experience of being blocked off;
| DawnStar file photo |
| Without forgiveness, healing will always be incomplete. "As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind." ~Isabelle Holland |
Contributed by Sandra Cassell
MorningStar for people
To submit comments, requests or materials,
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
For empowerment workshops, seminars and lectures, see: http://www.dawncoveabbey.org/healing-circle
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MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
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MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
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