The “Challenge” of Elijah’s Coin

In Elijah’s Coin the principal character is given a coin by a mysterious mentor. The coin bears some engraved letters, but other than possessing it, the main character has no idea what the coin is or what it is about. He encounters others with the same coin and slowly learns that possession of the coin places him in a unique group and, perhaps more importantly, the coin comes with expectations for the bearer. The coin serves to identify membership, but also to convey the seriousness of the obligations attendant to possessing it.

In each copy of Elijah’s Coin there are two coins sealed inside the back cover. One is for the reader, to keep as a reminder of the principles in the book. The other is to give away. Teach the lesson to a friend, loved one or complete stranger and give them the coin, so they can start on their journey.

One inspiration for the use of a coin in Elijah’s Coin comes from a story that dates back to World War I. As the story goes, a lieutenant ordered solid bronze medallions for each member of his flying squadron. He designed a special emblem on each side of the coin. Before the squadron departed for duty, he gave one coin to each member of the squadron. Shortly after distributing the medallions, the lieutenant’s aircraft was shot down behind enemy lines. He was captured by a German patrol and stripped of all personal possessions and identification. Because the coin was in secured in a pouch worn around his neck, it was not discovered by the German interrogators. He was taken as a prisoner of war and held in a small French town near the front.

One night after intense aerial bombardment, he was able to escape and changed into civilian clothing. Traveling by night and hiding by day, he was able to cross the front lines and stumbled onto a French outpost. The French army in this sector of the front had been victimized by saboteurs who many times masqueraded as civilians. Fearing that he was a German spy, they made arrangements to have him executed. Just in time he remembered the medallion in the pouch. He pulled it out and showed it to them. One of the French captors recognized the squadron insignia and they delayed his execution long enough to make inquiries to confirm his identity. Upon being reunited with his squadron, it became a tradition to ensure that all members carried their coin at all times.

Today hundreds of different coins are “minted” by members of military brigades, squadrons, divisions and specialty groups. It is a means to display pride in membership and can be used to show the history of one’s military career—coin by coin. They are referred to as “challenge coins” and there are rules that require members to have their coin with them at all times, lest they lose a challenge when asked to produce it. The coin in this book also recognizes membership–membership in an ideal and a model for success.

The concept of a coin in the book, Elijah’s Coin, is to recognize those who have learned the “give to get” message and those who are on the path to learning the message. It is a club, not unlike a military squadron. As with military service, the coin isn’t mandatory or necessary for living the message, however it can be a means to reinforce the message, and in times of need, give the owner a sense that they are part of something bigger and beyond themselves.

In the book, whenever characters identified themselves as having a coin from Elijah, it results in an immediate show of appreciation, including job offers and acts of kindness from other members in the club. In the sense of a challenge, I challenge the book’s readers to identify those who are struggling to find Elijah’s message, and reciprocate with kindness, understanding and offers of assistance. We can all pay it forward. The coin is just a symbol, but if its mere presence causes one to find success and to react with generosity, kindness and compassion, then the message will truly have been passed.