True Wealth

True Wealth
By: Mark Spencer

I had a conversation with
A stranger at a bar.
He asked if I believed in God,
As I lit a cigar.

Offended by his inquiry,
I blew smoke in his face.
I planed to sit and hear him out,
Then put him in his place.

I said, God never answers prayers,
Nor has He answered mine.
Perhaps I would believe in Him
If He sent me a sign.

He said; "take a look around you,
At the "signs" in your life.
You have more treasures than you need,
You've children and a wife."

I said, I worked for what I have,
Nothing was given me!
Perhaps I might feel different if
I won the lottery.

He asked me what I valued most,
What I thought more divine...
A treasure won, though never earned,
Or wealth already mine.

"Can money purchase happiness,
Or buy someone true love?
Can health be sold for love of gold,
If it rained from above?"

He said he'd like to buy my life.
He'd pay the price I say.
More gold than I could ever spend,
If I would walk away.

I asked him if this was a trick,
Some kind of twisted joke.
He showed me statements from his bank,
To prove the truth he spoke.

His assets were in the billions,
He must have been insane.
Why would he trade it for my life;
What could he hope to gain?

I asked him, what if I said yes,
Using a skeptic's tone.
"I'd have your life, and you'd have mine,
With everything I own."

He told me I should sleep on it,
That I should think it through.
For this would be the kind of choice,
That nothing can undo.

When I got home I saw, at last,
The treasures that were mine.
The miracles that graced my life
Looked more and more divine.

Why did I take this for granted?
How could I be so blind?
To think I might have sold it all!
Was I out of my mind?

I began counting my blessings,
Amazed at what I found.
I could see the prayers He answered,
His grace was all around.

I said, Lord, will you forgive me,
For thinking it was me
Who brought these blessings on myself?
I was too proud to see.

I am grateful for my children,
Their light has filled my life.
A life which you have blessed with love,
God, thank you for my wife.

And then I heard the doorbell ring,
Thought who would call so late?
I looked out at my doorstep where
I saw the stranger wait.

He said, "I see you chose to keep
Your family and health.
I'm pleased that you now understand,
The meaning of true wealth."

"Be thankful each and every day,
And cherish what you've got.
The blessings that have graced your life,
Cannot be sold or bought."

And then he turned and left me there,
Reflecting on my life.
I closed the door, and said a prayer,
Then hugged my kids and wife.