So I was walking the dog last night when a man was looking at my very 
cute doggie and asked what his name was. I told him “Haze” and since he was kind of creeping me out I kept walking. He said, I’d love to have a dog like that, he’s very cool.
I thanked him and told him that I was indeed very lucky and that I wouldn’t sell this little ball of fur for any amount of money.
And then I wondered if that were true.
Fr. Pat Keleher, the Pastor at the North Campus Newman Community told me a great story over lunch the other day:
A man bought a house and moved his family, a wife and new baby, into the home and all was well with the world. He paid about $200,000 for the home and was quite happy.
A man showed up a few days later and told him that he really wanted to buy the house. The man flatly told him that the house wasn’t for sale and that he just moved in. But the man was insisting, “No, I really want to buy it!”
Angrily, the new home owner told him a bit more sternly, “I told you…it’s not for sale, buddy!”
Then the man simply said, “Well, I’ll make you an offer anyway. Would a million and a half dollars be enough?”
Sold!
So back to my dog…I wondered if that man who was enamored by my dog offered me an overwhelming price for him, would I have accepted it? The truth is that I love that dog so much that I think I’d turn him down. Call it an unhealthy attachment, if you will, but by the same token, if there were someone out there that I thought needed Haze more than I do—or if I thought they could give Haze a better home than what he has with me, that might be a more compelling reason for me to give up my pal.
Notice, I said “might.” Mostly, because I really think I’m the best person for that chihuahua and he’s been my loyal companion too.
What else wouldn’t I give up for riches? Obviously my wife (Robert Reford, keep your indecent proposal to yourself) and my marriage is one. My parents and sister and other family members are obviously others—but they are people and relationships and not possessions, if you will. The truth is that there isn’t a whole lot that I wouldn’t give away for that kind of proposal. My master’s degree diploma might be one and the first copy of my book another. Pictures could be another, especially if I have no other copy. My wedding ring and our wedding album might be other items. My job in ministry would be another.
What would I give up rather easily? If I got that home offer, I’d move very quickly. My car, my iphone, this very computer–they are all transient purchases, means to an end with little sentimental value.
I think as I have matured, I have been able to let go more easily of things and grasp on more tightly to relationships. A sign of maturity? Perhaps?
What would you let go of easily? More difficultly? Not at all? What if someone offered you a boatload of money for your job? Your car? Your family home? Would you bite?