EVERSE

To be consumed with the stuff of life seems to be the way of the world.  We burn ourselves out desperately seeking to satisfy our desires only to find ourselves empty and shallow in the end.  If we let go of it all there is peace but letting go can be painful. 

There once was a man who dragged himself out of a life of poverty, of desperate existence, to make a fortune and live the life most dream of.  What he desired he acquired through the fame and wealth that was at his fingertips.  It was a life of luxury and ease that seemingly erased the pain of his roots where poverty ruled. 

One day this man’s family fell apart; though the brokenness of his family had been a long time in the making and he had been blind to it.  His concern for wealth and his own desires created a space of shallowness where he neglected the relationships that matter most.  Money could no longer hide the lack of love he had given and his family was overcome with drugs, adultery, and hate. 

The rich man thought that more money would fix things in being able to buy the best counseling and bigger toys to forget the pain that his family was experiencing.  But, he realized to his horror that more wealth left his family more devastated leaving him with an emptiness in the pit of his stomach.  One day the man became aware of how lonely he truly was and the emptiness of his existence where there was no love or peace in his heart.

It was a moment of truth, an epiphany, as the man realized that when he was poor his family had what mattered most; love for one another.  In an act of desperation he sold all he had and gave the money to the poor.  He downsized his house to a simple home and changed jobs to one that was not as demanding. 

This change caused such consternation among his friends for whom he could not longer throw big parties or give lavish gifts that they deserted him.  This left the man confused as he thought they would understand that love is more important and the peace that comes from helping the poor.  So when the opportunity came, this poor man accepted a promotion and began to rebuild his wealth and live the lie that money buys; misery can be hidden behind big meaningless toys.