You probably learned this limerick as a child: "rich man, poor man, begger-man, thief; doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief". If that is backward please forgive. I simply want to use two of those.."rich man, poor man."
While we traveled last week the markets around the world went crazy. Still are. We had saved for a year and a half for this trip. It was paid for, as were our tickets. I decided to read no newspapers nor watch TV. We would enjoy the trip and accept our lot when we returned home. On the plane from Dallas to San Antonio Ann was ushered on board in a wheelchair. How she survived the week I do not know but she did and never complained.They seated us in the first row behind first-class. There were three seats on our side. We had the middle and window. When the first-class folks came aboard one of them walked through first-class and sat down in the aisle seat next to us. He was a nice-looking, smiling, heavy-set gentleman carrying a book. He said: "I'm Mike and I talk alot. Hope you don't mind.". I assured him we didn't. Soon I discovered I wanted to hear everything I could about Mike. He was going to San Antonio for a golf tournament sponsored by Valero. It was for company execs who do business with them. Mike has a company that does. He had played the Master's course in Augusta this year and almost birdied that tricky hole where the ball goes on above the hole and then trickles down. His eyes flashed excitement as he recalled that shot. Missed his putt and made a par. He talked a lot about his family. His wife is Agnes, same as Ann's first name. He has five children and several grandchildren. They come over on Sundays for church and family dinner at his farm, and then enjoy the woods of his four-hundred acre estate.
Mike had recently given five-million dollars to Georgetown, his alma-mater. They had a "deal" for him but he wasn't all that impressed with the "to-do". He had given his children $100 million and hoped it would not ruin them. Mike grew up poor. His dad was a railroad man. At this point I am wondering if Mike is real or not. He is not bragging about these things. They are just a part of his life. It was easy to see FAMILY was his number one love. He spoke lovingly of Agnes his wife. He told of her devotion to God. His Mother was also devout in her faith. Before he left I asked if he had a business card and he gladly gave it to me. When I arrived home I headed for the computer and typed in the name. It was valid. Forbes listed Mike among the 400 richest persons in America. His estimated worth was 1.3 billion dollars? (That's billion,folks!). He is majority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, an NBA team. On and on I could go. The point is that "rich man, poor man" has never been played out any better as we three sat and talked for an hour and ten minutes with NO interruptions from anyone. He knew I was a retired minister and it didn't bother him. We knew he was quite rich (though we had no idea HOW RICH) and it didn't bother us. We were,for an hour, Mike and Dale and Agnes. This gentleman chose to sit with the "common folks" because he had a little more leg room in that particular seat...and because he likes people.
Ann and I are rich! Not in money, but in faith and friends, and family. How much richer can one be?
