Men are that they might have joy

"South Coast Plaza" or something.

     Out and about on a casual Monday morning, my companion and I stumble across a gargantuan building, completely beige, and filled with parking garages.  People from all over the world, from France to China, seemed to gather in the building.  I think it was called "South Coast Plaza" or something.

     Anywho, we were touring in the building and were basically window-shopping at the most expensive-looking places we could find.  Burberry, Gucci, Tiffany and Company, etc.-- all the big names were here, alright.  However, there was a store we decided to drop by: Louis Vuitton.  As my companion and I were browsing their $800 sneakers, a sales associate comes up to strike a conversation with us, as protocol directed, I presume.



There goes my marriage plans.

     "Your nametag-- what does it say?"
     "Oh, it has my name, Elder Chung, and our church in Korean!"
     "So you speak Korean?"
     "Yep, I'm a Korean missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
     "Oh, missionary-- what are you doing at a store like this?"

     From there, the conversation actually hit its apex.  We tell her that we were just simply window shopping and enjoying our Monday there.  The sales associate then tells us that many of the clients that come to the store are usually extremely wealthy people.  Upon further conversation, she mentioned that many of these people were extremely arrogant, buying for themselves to boast of their expensive outfits.

     "People don't usually serve others here; they serve themselves."

     These words that that sales associate said left a pretty big impression on me-- quite frankly, I was shocked.  I was aware that Orange County was rather affluent, but to hear a sales associate working with such denizens say such a cynical statement was just-- "what?"  Now that I think of it, though, it kind of makes sense.

     In the mind of this peculiar person, I think that rich people analyze cost-benefit in every aspect of their personal lives.  This goes beyond social, marital, and familial lives.  What seems to be more important?  Boasting yourself up to impress peers and alienating family or Being that strong, fatherly example for your family while sacrificing occupational privileges?  Let's look at a scenario.

     You have a week to allot to either work or family.  Of course, for the sake of your family, you would pick work.  Each day, leaving at 6 in the morning and coming home sometimes at 9 at night, the days pass.  Your kids begin to miss playing with you like you normally did!  At the office, you get a call from your kid saying exactly so-- he wants to hang out with you after work tomorrow!  It just so happens that it's a short day that day and you can get home early!  Although you're a young, urban professional and you want to climb the corporate ladder, you're excited for this time!  Giddy, you go to the place where you clock in for the day.  Before you check in, your boss comes to talk to you.  He tells you that if you work overtime on an "important" project the next day after the work hour, he would give you not just a pay bonus, but a chance to work on the 43rd floor-- two floors away from the CEO's office.

     This is a HUGE privilege.  And this may be a decision you would probably have to make in the distant future (as the married yuppie you are).  Affluence and power or family?  Seriously, what stands in your way from earning a seven-figure sum?  Likewise, what are you will to sacrifice for the loves of your life?

     Rich people-- they have so many tough decisions to make.  Later on, though, that sales associate told me that those people who had bought the glam of designer apparel were not usually happy-- their family relationships were virtually nonexistent and these rich fellows, at that point, were only aiming to impress a crowd that would abandon him if he ever called on for help.  What a dilemma!

     That rich man's children-- who will they lean on without a strong father figure?  The wife-- where will she go without a help meet?  From a post way back when, I want to emphasize on family.

     No cost-benefit analysis will ever oust a family from being a #1 priority.  They just cannot be replaced with money!  If hell came out from below and swallowed up your employment, friends, resources, parents, and offshore trust funds, who will you go to?  No one, I hear?  Ummmm, no,

YOUR FAMILY!

     Your wife and children-- with a strong, stable family, they are the ones who you can cling on for safety.  They enrich your life-- your work-- to have meaning!  With a strong family, life's challenges are slightly more tolerable.  It's a difficult journey that results in a happier state of mind.  Here's a few things that you could do to strengthen your family today:

• Spend 2 hours with your family at a given day (maybe Monday) just to hang out and enjoy each other's company!
• Do something you've never done before like hiking, picnicking, etc.-- just do it responsibly.
• Go on a date night with your wife!
• Cheer your kid on in his soccer games!
• Embrace "take your child to work" day!
• Family vacations!

     To conclude, let this quote resonate within your mind:

     "Human relationships are primary in all of living.  When the gusty winds blow and shake our lives, if we know that people care about us, we may bend with the wind.. but we won't break."  --Fred Rogers

Also, the title is a nod to a really awesome person, supporter, and fellow missionary [now back home] doing her own thing +Sister Katie Jensen