The Incredible Gift of Authentic Wealth

Several years ago my family had the opportunity to talk with a young man at a skate park in Fullerton, California. If you don’t know anything about Fullerton let me first start by saying that it isn’t your typical showboat community of Orange County. The skate park was covered in graffiti and gang activity is definitely present throughout the community. As we approached the skate park this young man befriended us and took to enjoying my son Brady “shredding it” on the ramps.

It was easy to notice he wasn’t your “model citizen” (whatever that means). However, this guy was authentic and had an ability to be real and share like no one I have ever met. As he began to share where his life was at, it was very clear that drugs were in his system. He began to share of his dreams to be clean and sober and how he had been using for quite some time. He was able to kick his two year heroin addiction by skating all day long to keep himself busy. He still, however, struggled to stay away from pot that so frequents the skate parks and places he hangs out.

We learned that he had lost his job because he had to go to jail for a misdemeanor and was now living in a cold weather shelter. He was hoping to get into a 6 month program soon and had applied to several. He had been in and out of the hospital 6 or 7 times in the past year because he struggles with bipolar manic depression.

Yet, there among all that he had faced, was hope. There was faith and there was love in this young man more than I have ever seen.  By the world’s standards he had nothing. By the world’s view he was nothing. But he was richer than most would ever dare to be.

He began to show Brady some moves on the skate park, and his face lit up as Brady successfully tried the things he was teaching him. He was giving Brady free skate lessons wanting nothing in return. He was happy to share his passion with Brady just to see the joy on Brady's face. As we talked with him more, my husband asked him about his dreams and what he wants to do with his life. He had an overwhelming desire to teach kids not to do what he did and to stay away from drugs. He missed out on the birth of his sister’s first child and his grandfather’s death because he was in jail. We had the opportunity to listen to his plan to go into the Marines after he is done with a 6 month program.

Before we left he said “I have something for you, be stoked!” All this time we were talking to him I kept asking God to show me what we could do for him. I wanted to help him, but every way I thought to tangibly help I knew would only cause him more temptation. He walked away and a few minutes later came back with his own skate deck he had set up with larger wheels. It was his way of getting around town. He insisted we take it for Brady and we assured him that Brady had decks and didn’t need it. He was so excited to give it to Brady because he loved watching Brady on the park, and he believed that if he gave of what he had that something good would come back to him. He was giving all he had, trusting that he wouldn’t be without something better if he did. After much pushing by him and refusing by us we finally relented. We decided we couldn’t refuse this young man’s joy of wanting to bless Brady.

We then asked him if there was a place to get food close by thinking the least we could do would be to buy him lunch or something. His response was eye opening and honestly it rocked my world. He began offering to take us to the store and buy us groceries and stuff for sandwiches. This young man, who had “nothing” was richer than anyone I have ever met. He was ready to spend what little money he had in order to feed us. What an incredible gift to give yourself away in this manner. I pray that our friend does find sobriety and manages to fulfill his dreams. I would say he is a lot closer than most of us who appear to have it all together. Most of us won’t think about helping those who really need it, let alone those who don’t. Our closest friends often don’t get the treatment that this young man gave to us.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19