Baruch Hashem, I am careful about shemiras einayim, and I usually function very well. While this is not always easy – there are nisyonos – getting into the habit makes it easier, and thus I make my way to places with my eyes looking down. Generally, the scenery I see before me is the sidewalk. With time I have learned how not to bump into poles or people, and baruch Hashem, I have never lost out because of this practice.
One day, I was walking near a construction site, and I saw a bag filled with sifrei kodesh. I was concerned for the kavod of these holy sefarim, and I hurried to pick up the bag. I took it home, and there I opened it. I took the sefarim out one after another, and I discovered that they were torn, missing pages, and not fit for use. I understood that these sefarim had been discarded, and all I had to do was take them to genizah.
But then I caught sight of an interesting signature. A quick glance revealed that this was in fact the authentic original signature of one of the gedolei hador of the previous generation. Now I had in hand something worth a tremendous amount of money. Collectors of antiques and letters of gedolei Yisrael would be very pleased to have this.
I asked a rav if I was allowed to use the item I had found, and he told me what action to take. I did what he said, and the item was halachically mine.
I thank Hashem for the find and for the monetary gain I have from it, and I am certain that this is in the zechus of my shemiras einayim. It is only because my eyes constantly sweep the sidewalk that I discovered the bag.
