What's a Dollar Worth ?

The details aren't important, but I had to ask for a refund from a motel.

Fortunately, it was a local franchisee, and I could talk to him in person.

We paid for a week, I said, but the friend I rented for had to go to the hospital yesterday, so he wasn't in the room today.  Can we get a refund for today ?

No, said the franchisee, you rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't refund that.

Well, I said, I can remove my friend's possessions from the room, and you would have it available for rental today.

No, he said, you rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't do that.

Alright, I said.  How about this: my friend was in the hospital because he got sick and had to go to the emergency room, no fault of his own.  But he'll still need to be in town next week for additional medical appointments: can you add the day he wasn't actually here to the week he rented for ?

No, he said, the room was rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't do that.

O.K., I said.  Thank you.

I was polite throughout, as was he.  But...

Our national currency used to be backed by gold-reserves, which guaranteed its value.  Since 1934 the value of a dollar betokens our trust in the government which stands behind it.

The thought occurred that a dollar can also represent our heart's desire to "do justice" and "love mercy."