I've had just enough time... to say no to the God of Prosperity
Taken from the hotel lobby of Jesselton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The God of Prosperity approached the old man with
the slumped shoulder walking in the street. “Pray to me and I will bestow you
riches untold!”
The old man lifted his weary head and looked at the
God of Prosperity. A hint of a smile curled up his lips, looked to the ground
again and continued on his way.
The God of Prosperity let him walked pass and
waited, confident he will turn back for who can refuse free gold. But when it
appeared that the old man’s intention is only to continue on his way; the God
of Prosperity ran after him; his oversized stomach bouncing up and down as he
caught up. How undignified for a God to be running after a man, he thought angrily.
Through panted breath, he exclaimed “Are you short of hearing? I offered you
Gold! Real gold for free!”
The old man replied patiently, “Leo Tolstoy said -
Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from
it all that is not gold.”
The old man continued, “I say - Gold, like Truth,
cannot be obtained if you do not dig deep enough. Real gold cannot be
recognized by its glitters for eyes are easily seduced. And once you are, you
will sell your soul. I will tell Mr. Tolstoy one has to wash away the glitters
too.” With that he gave another smile and a respectful bow and shuffled on his
way.
The God of Prosperity was dumb struck. He recovered
enough to ask “Have we met before?”
The old man replied without turning, “Yes, you were
the one who sold me the false gold.”
