Perhaps the widow was smiling when she placed her two coins in the basket. She was free in many ways. When I lived in Albany New York, one of my friends was Betsy. I met her at the Interfaith Shelter. A social worker helped her get her benefits and rent a small studio apartment. Whenever she had more than five outfits in her closet, she would give one away. Whenever she received a gift, she would enjoy it for a bit, but then would give it to someone who needed it more than she. She took delight in every experience, no matter how routine it seemed to others. Her trust in the goodness of life and of each person she met taught me and others how rich apparent poverty can be.
