“The Penny”
by Alan Johnson

I learned a lot from my dad who was a credit manager at a large corporation.  He was the one who worked for hours to make sure his checkbook was balanced, even if it was off by just one penny.  Growing up in the time of the depression, he embedded in me the words, “a penny saved, is a penny saved.”  And “waste not, want not.” So even a penny was significant. 
 
Now, the penny is no longer being minted.  Over the coming years they will become increasingly scarce. I remember a time when the penny became a metaphor for me. It happened when I was visiting my teenage son in the psych ward in a local hospital.
 
The usual pattern was that my son would experience a 2-week hospitalization as the medications would work to bring him back to himself.  Being within walking distance, I visited daily during the time for visitation and had always done so the many times my son was hospitalized. I felt a shiver each time I would go through the locked doors.
 
During many of the visits I became aware that there was never anyone who came to visit a young teenager whose room was across from my son's.  I would nod and acknowledge him, but it was not appropriate for me to engage with him.  One specific day just as I was leaving the hospital, I noticed a penny on the ground.  I leaned down and picked it up. Now someone had lost it, but I didn’t think that person was searching for it. It was not that important.  This inconsequential penny did not count for anything of value.
 
After all these many times I have visited my son at the ward at visiting times, I realized there were many patients who are not being visited at all.  Some patients were not connecting with family or friends, day after day after day.  I did not know their story. I did not know why no one visited.  Were they isolated?  Were they discarded?  Were they of no value or worthy? Were they rejected?
 
I believe as I was visiting my son, he was taking in as much of what he could of his worth and value.  I love him.  Whether or not he could take that in, I was offering it in my presence and my acknowledgement.  He was not invisible or overlooked. 
 
My Christian faith is grounded in being with those who are vulnerable. Those who are overlooked. Those who were made invisible. Those who are rejected or even despised.  My faith seeks to be made manifest by showing compassion.  To suffer along with those who are suffering, alleviating that isolation. Sometimes presence is the only gift we can give. 
 
The penny reminds me that in the smallest of things there are the helpers who know there are forces which can offer that being is enough. Being is of value. Being is of worth. 
 
Anytime I see a penny I always stop and pick it up.  And holding the penny, I offer some words of a prayer.  “Holy One of compassion, I hold this penny to acknowledge those who are in a psych ward, asking that your presence be with those who are experiencing isolation and neglect.  In whatever way, bring company and connection.  Bring that attention through other patients, or the sensitive staff. Allow those who are isolated or despairing to be embraced and surrounded by the thoughts even of strangers who are holding them in their heartfelt prayers.  Be a comfort, Holy One, where there is need. Amen.”
 
Anytime I find a penny, especially now, as they become increasingly scarce, I acknowledge it, see it, and know it is not simply invisible, passed by, without value. It is a means for connecting in a prayerful way with each other.  Pick it up, hold it in your hand, and then pray. This is my Penny Prayer. 

Alan Johnson is a mental health advocate. He is a co-founder of the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (www.inmi.us) He is a retired United Church of Christ clergy who was a chaplain at The Children’s Hospital, Denver.