More Valuable Than A Fortune
=============================
I sat in the dark.
Most mornings at five, I am up in prayer. I sit in the dark
downstairs in a sound isolated room that used to be a home
recording studio vocal booth.
No noise enters from the outside so that I can hear the quiet
inner voices clearer.
I thought about material things.
Not the desire for more or the plans to make more.
I thought about the meager times versus the times of plenty.
I have lived on both extremes.
For years, I earned less than minimum wage.
Now I am in the top tax bracket.
My first car was a 1966 Corvair. Not Corvette, Corvair.
I paid $125.00 for it.
It leaked a trail of oil everywhere that I drove.
I now have a luxury car whose key costs more than my first car
and my motorcycle costs more than my first four vehicles.
My first home was a condo. I paid $21,000.00 for it.
That was cheap even when I bought it.
My home now is far larger and more expensive, and we have plans
to soon build a house over twice this size.
I sat in the dark and thought about all these things.
I am a rather content and happy man. I honestly would not trade
places with anyone on earth even if I had the power to do so.
Yet, as I thought of all these things and the vast change in
material status, realization dawned.
I was happier with the cheaper things.
Not even a private jet would bring as much joy as my mini-bike.
As you grow, both in age and wisdom, the power of the material
to bring you true joy diminishes.
Material things fade and turn to dust, both in the natural and
in the spirit.
Relationships and their power over the human spirit endure.
True love grows and remains just as strong and is even enhanced
as the years march by.
God spoke into my spirit as I sat in the dark and reflected.
As I thought about it during the next two days, it grew stronger
and I saw the truth of it even clearer.
I repeat it for you now.
"A friend is more valuable than a fortune."
=============================
I sat in the dark.
Most mornings at five, I am up in prayer. I sit in the dark
downstairs in a sound isolated room that used to be a home
recording studio vocal booth.
No noise enters from the outside so that I can hear the quiet
inner voices clearer.
I thought about material things.
Not the desire for more or the plans to make more.
I thought about the meager times versus the times of plenty.
I have lived on both extremes.
For years, I earned less than minimum wage.
Now I am in the top tax bracket.
My first car was a 1966 Corvair. Not Corvette, Corvair.
I paid $125.00 for it.
It leaked a trail of oil everywhere that I drove.
I now have a luxury car whose key costs more than my first car
and my motorcycle costs more than my first four vehicles.
My first home was a condo. I paid $21,000.00 for it.
That was cheap even when I bought it.
My home now is far larger and more expensive, and we have plans
to soon build a house over twice this size.
I sat in the dark and thought about all these things.
I am a rather content and happy man. I honestly would not trade
places with anyone on earth even if I had the power to do so.
Yet, as I thought of all these things and the vast change in
material status, realization dawned.
I was happier with the cheaper things.
Not even a private jet would bring as much joy as my mini-bike.
As you grow, both in age and wisdom, the power of the material
to bring you true joy diminishes.
Material things fade and turn to dust, both in the natural and
in the spirit.
Relationships and their power over the human spirit endure.
True love grows and remains just as strong and is even enhanced
as the years march by.
God spoke into my spirit as I sat in the dark and reflected.
As I thought about it during the next two days, it grew stronger
and I saw the truth of it even clearer.
I repeat it for you now.
"A friend is more valuable than a fortune."
