Pennies from Heaven!
There were 6322 pennies all totaled that went into the
machine. Yes, I finally made it to Coinstar to exchange them for cash. For 15
years I have saved these little copper beauties thinking I will sort them by
date and start this penny collection. Nope, I never did and at about 100 pounds
in weight I decided I had grunted out loud (GOL) moving them for the last time.
I heaved them from my car to the shopping cart and into the waiting hungry coin
gobbler in Wal-Mart’s lobby! I never expected to receive a life lesson and a
fun illustration of life from them.
6322 pennies went into the machine…and six came out in the
scupper below. Yes, six rejected little copper coins lying naked and unwanted
in a lonely dark pile. They were a curious lot. I picked them up and cradled
them tenderly and curiously. Why? I can’t say but there was a simple charm
about them and their lonely state of isolation and rejection. I turned each one over to see just what they
might teach me.
The first one was bent a little. I had to look hard but sure
enough it was subtly off so that the sensor in the machine said, nope you are
not straight enough to make the cut. It’s boink and out you go! This little guy
had seen some pressure. It had to be way too much for his strength to stand. It
must have hurt and he didn’t spring back to flat. Bent and free and different
in separation from the flatties.
Next, was one that was only 2/3 thirds left of his original
penny-ness. He is kind of an “nny” with the “pe” gone. A part of him is just
MIA. Abraham Lincoln’s hair was part missing! It was either burnt off, corroded
or ground down; I can’t say which. It just made me think, that’s wrong bro! You
saw some serious warfare to take a shot like that. Like a warhorse ready for a
green pasture with a quiet stream, it’s coming soon my little fragmented
friend. Soon.
Another penny, really two pennies were powerfully glued, boned,
welded or stuck together with something strong. Too thick, too close for the
machine was their sin…and bounced to the scupper was their fate. I tried to pry
them apart with no success. I decided they were supposed to be together? Continued
curious prying was no match for their adhesion. They are joined together for
all time. Kind of like the Romeo and Juliet of coppers…a numismatic tragedy in
one act shoved out of the window down to the waiting scupper. Here for art
thou!
This one that I named greenie must have been at the bottom
of some pond or buried in earth somewhere for a really long time. Poor little buddy
just wasn’t shiny any more. His entire copper gleam faded so very long ago,
forever. Ever had a day like that…or a week or year? Fate had dealt him a discoloring
blow, forever green and funky, a colorful curiosity to admire and ponder.
Somehow the machine could detect green. How it did is unknown but greenie was
bounced and just slid on down to the company of the marginalized bent and completely
unique.
Interestingly there was an Amusement Park token in my penny
bucket. Different size, color, thickness and material from the others, it might
be brass. There was no way the machine was going to let this rowdy rascal in.
No face value and from out of town! A citizen of another fiduciary culture and
economic reality. No cash value is stamped right on his face. Imagine going
through life stamped, NO FACE VALUE! Not cool, oh no. Somehow this round shiny
friend seemed to be at home in the scupper. He fit right in and cozied up to
bent and greenie just fine. They looked good together. Go figure. Circumstance
puts interesting personalities together.
Last was the brightest, most lustrous, lovely penny ever.
What were you doing in the scupper?
You are the poster child for pennies that are accepted I thought. There is
nothing wrong with you in fact you are a 2015 mint condition smarty! You
are…too good? The machine doesn’t want too good to believe beauty? What is
happening here? I understand all the others with their non-typical
peculiarities, bends, stuck-ness and peccadillos…but not you. You are a victim
of your goodness. You are the genuine article but the machine must see so few
of your kind that well it just can’t accept you. Dang! The pure in heart really
are blessed and in a funny way. Hmmm!
So, there you have it. An hour in Wal-Mart pushing coins
into the gobbler and an interesting phenomenon, (at least to me) a little story
of life, perhaps yours, for sure feels like mine sometimes. A story of six pennies and their special
recognition for being different and for service above and beyond the call of
duty!
The six are in my pocket right now all together having fun I
think. I get them out and look again at their unique nature and special
talents. No, there are no two alike in this group.
They don’t know it yet but they have a treat coming. I just
happen to have one ounce of the purest gold shaped into a flat rectangle just
sitting alone, lonely. It is truly lustrous! I’m guessing that it would like
some company. I’m going to join these six in fellowship with the gold bar
together kind of like a little street of gold to dance on and accent their
unique personalities, characteristics and charm. I think they will find and affinity
for each other.
They are kind of like a sacred seven. Isn’t that a good
number seven? They say it is God’s
number. Seven days in a week and one
coin for each day as a reminder of how there are special and unique people we
will meet along the way…never by chance but by design. I promise to appreciate
them. If I don’t get along with them, I will still love them. They have been
through more than I have. Their shape and shine are a clue to their story.
Every day I will remember to celebrate the very unique
nature of the non-typical special ones that will populate heaven and call it
home with me.
Hey, the gold bar would never pass through the machine
anyway, eh?
