I recently received an e-mail from a friend who thought I might be interested to know some little known, yet significant facts about the U.S. dollar.

“Of all things!” I bet you are saying, or maybe even, “Who cares?” If you are feeling rather laissez faire about this opportunity to expand your knowledge base, I offer a prediction: You will eventually say, “What do you know!” and mean it.

The present look of the U.S. dollar bill first rolled off the presses in 1957. While the bills appear to be paper, they are made up of a linen/cotton blend, complete with minute silk fibers dyed red and blue (used as authenticity identifiers) and a coating of starch to help with water resistance. For every time you find damp money in the bottom of your washer as you move wet clothes into the dryer, silently thank the U.S. government. This material blend keeps the bills intact in ways paper cannot.

The ink is formulated using a recipe kept under strict lock and key and the final step includes a thorough pressing — giving us that crisp look we all like about newly issued money. I watched this being done years ago when my childhood family took a tour of the U.S. mint at out nation’s capitol and I thought it was fascinating even then.

This is interesting enough but the vast number of symbols on the back of the bill, specifically chosen to refer to historical events and the passion that united our nation’s forefathers, is what surprises me the most.

Take a look at the two circles. Together they contain the Great Seal of the United States, created by Ben Franklin and a standing committee who spent four years creating it and two years seeking congressional approval. The left circle includes an uncapped pyramid, representing the fact that the new nation was a work in progress. The all-seeing eye, set off with light, symbolizes divinity. The Latin above the pyramid, annuity coeptis, meaning “God has favored our undertaking,” and novus ordo seclorum, meaning “a new order has begun,” reminds us that many of the founding fathers believed that a nation blessed by God could do anything.

The bald eagle represents our nation because of its strength and ability to soar above a storm. That there is no crown or support for the shield signifies our ability as a vast nation of individuals to stand on our own yet unite when needed. This is confirmed by the Latin phrase, e pluribus unum: “one nation from many people.”

Notice the olive branch and arrows being held in the talons of the eagle. This reminds us that we seek peace but will fight to preserve it when necessary. Above the eagle are 13 stars, representing the 13 original colonies. Is it not equally interesting that there are 13 signatures on the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 bars on the shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and 13 arrows?

I have lived 43 years and never stopped to take a good look at the dollar before. Not one teacher or professor ever pointed this out to me as I studied American literature, political science, and history throughout my years in school. Why is this?

It seems an element of rich understanding is lost when we no longer stop long enough to really look, listen, think, ask questions, talk with each other on extended occasions, and make it a point to enjoy. We are in such a great hurry. We have schedules to keep and requirements to meet so we do just enough to get by. We push to the limits and cut where we can. We buy Palm Pilots and bagged lettuce-— cut, washed, and ready for dumping and tossing. We eat prepared and microwaveable selections around the center island of our kitchens or pass around the bag of fast food on the way to a scheduled event.

I long this week to stop, look around, and drink it all in. Let’s get up early and make note of the moment the birds wake up and begin to sing. What about starting a journal and recording the number of blessings that present themselves each day? Or say a silent prayer each time the kids and their friends enter the door, hungry and ready to unload the news of the day.

Let’s forget the laundry for one day because the sun is out, there is a garden to plant, a horse to pat, and a tiny little neighbor to pick up. There are, by and by, sweet messages for us to receive this week and they are there if only we will look closely.

Joan Bay Klope is a freelance writer and a former editor of Christian books. Contact her at jbklope@hotmail.com