The Tattered Hundred Dollar Bill

as the weather grows cool and winter turns the corner a hungry man sits under a bridge keeping warm and staying dry* tired from walking he stops to think of a time when things weren't so difficult* he remembers warm evening meals with his family, hot morning showers before work, and weekends shopping for new clothes that would be impressive to those he came accross during the week* but not now...things have changed...all is lost and in the past...But, in a brief moment his world changes -- a local business owner approaches where he is sitting* stops* looks* thinks*

a martial arts master who has been training for over forty years enters into the post office* wearing jeans and a teeshirt noone knew his profession was teaching martial art leaders worldwide* he entered the long line in the front instead of the back* accidentally* suddenly another man reached up, grabbed his shirt, and pushed him out of line* the martial arts master lowered his head turned and moved to the back* the other man stated as he walked past "that's what i thought! best you know your place"* the martial arts master smiled to himself*

it was on the campus of yale university that i saw it* slightly covered by candy bar wrappers, empty coke cans, and unwanted class notes was a tattered hundred dollar bill* i don't know how on this huge, busy campus that this bill had been overlooked or how it was on this day that i happened upon it* but it was there -- dirty* tattered* crumpled* it didn't look like much, but that didn't change its value* i started thinking about what i could do with this hundred dollar bill --what could i buy?-- how would i spend it* right now it didn't matter what it looked like...where it came from...or how it got there...right now i saw the value and worth in my new found prize*

in reality there are "tattered hundred dollar bills" all around us* do you see them* if not -- you're not looking close enough* they may be stopping under a bridge to take a rest on their journey or they may be standing in line behind you* they have worth* they have value* but can you see it beyond what they look like on the outside...maybe like everyone else you missed it the first time you passed by* go back* look closer* look with intent* look with purpose*