Those You Touch...You Change

Did you know that your money likely has traces of cocaine on it?

A study by Jack Demirgian of the Argonne National Laboratory revealed that
a full 78% of the currency circulating in Miami and other major US cities
carries trace amounts of cocaine. That's probably true elsewhere, too.

They were only looking for cocaine, but I wonder what else might be found
on the bills? Maybe fast-food products, such as frying grease, mustard or
teriyaki sauce? Tea or coffee? And how about rouge or lipstick from purses
and lint from pockets? Perhaps ink from a leaky pen? I've found more
indistinguishable stains on some of my money than I care to think about.

What's more, we're told that if they look closely enough, they can even
learn something about where your money has been. To the store. To the
beach. Even hidden beneath a mattress.

Just about anything that comes into contact with money leaves a bit of
itself behind. Then, when the bills rub up against each other in a wallet
or billfold, they share contaminates. Everything the bills touch will be
changed, however slightly.

So it is with us. Everything we touch is changed. I used to play English
hand bells. "Don't touch the bells with your bare hands," we were told.
"Wear gloves." The oils from our hands changed the quality of the bells.

Everything we touch is changed. And everybody we touch is changed -- even
if we're not infected with something contagious. I'm not only talking about
physical touch, either. Often we touch their minds and spirits and hearts.
Everybody we speak to, rub shoulders with or even smile at...is changed in
some minute way. These changes can be helpful or hurtful, depending on our
interaction. It is like leaving a piece of ourselves behind with everyone
we meet, and taking a piece of them with us.

And even little changes can make a difference. NO ONE is insignificant in
this regard.

Bette Reeves said, "If you think you are too small to be effective, you
have never been in bed with a mosquito." You don't need to be a mosquito to
have an effect on people around you. The question is: what little part of
yourself will you leave behind? How will you influence them? Will your
encounter be thoughtful or hurried? Helpful or harmful? Intentional or
accidental?

There is something awe-inspiring about the influence we have on one
another. Whom will you touch today? What will you leave behind, and what
will you take with you?****


   ~ Steve Goodier ~****

** (taken from LBA)**