One precious year of my life was spent in Taipei –Taiwan. Out of that life experience, I’ve gleaned many lessons and I'm left with quite a few bitter-sweet memories.
One of the many stories that involved the materialistic attitude in that society was about the landlord of our apartment. I had flown into Taipei a month ahead of my family and team members to find a place to live.
I still can’t get over the strange method of advertising homes for rent in that city. Instead of your daily Newspaper or Craig’s list, they had bulletin boards erected in certain segments of each neighbourhood that listed homes for rent.
After a few days walking the length and breadth of that city, I came across a suitable location and made an appointment with the landlord to meet him in a prominent downtown, 4-star hotel. I found out that this man owned 15 homes just in the city, which probably made him a millionaire.
On the day of the meeting, I dressed formally to make a good impression and was at the hotel lobby 30 minutes early. After what seemed like an hour, there was a commotion at the door and I noticed a shabby looking man being escorted out of the hotel lobby. I intervened and found out he was my landlord. He looked more like a street-person than a successful businessman; it was no wonder that the door man didn’t allow him into the posh hotel lobby. His kung-fu pants were tattered and he carried an old worn-out backpack. He must have been in his late sixties; and in my subsequent conversation with him, found out he was single and had no immediate family.
It’s ironic that that a rich man like him would dress so poorly and live with such a poverty mentality.
“Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.” Proverbs 13:7
Years later, I still think about this old man occasionally. I still can’t get over our first meeting and wonder whatever happened to him. Did he ever get to enjoy some of the hard work and sacrifices he made all his life? Since he didn’t have a wife or children, I wonder what will happen to his fortune after he dies.
“Greed makes a poor job counsellor.” Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life
After a few days walking the length and breadth of that city, I came across a suitable location and made an appointment with the landlord to meet him in a prominent downtown, 4-star hotel. I found out that this man owned 15 homes just in the city, which probably made him a millionaire.
On the day of the meeting, I dressed formally to make a good impression and was at the hotel lobby 30 minutes early. After what seemed like an hour, there was a commotion at the door and I noticed a shabby looking man being escorted out of the hotel lobby. I intervened and found out he was my landlord. He looked more like a street-person than a successful businessman; it was no wonder that the door man didn’t allow him into the posh hotel lobby. His kung-fu pants were tattered and he carried an old worn-out backpack. He must have been in his late sixties; and in my subsequent conversation with him, found out he was single and had no immediate family.
It’s ironic that that a rich man like him would dress so poorly and live with such a poverty mentality.
“Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.” Proverbs 13:7
Years later, I still think about this old man occasionally. I still can’t get over our first meeting and wonder whatever happened to him. Did he ever get to enjoy some of the hard work and sacrifices he made all his life? Since he didn’t have a wife or children, I wonder what will happen to his fortune after he dies.
“Greed makes a poor job counsellor.” Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life
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