Spirituality - Compassion for the "Lottery Winners"

[sheila slater]

I used to play lottery quite regularly but not anymore. At one point I
was even scared that one day I might actually end up hitting the
jackpot!
I suddenly realized that I would then lose much of what precious
friends and family I have right now while "winning" a lot of new toys
and expensive diversions, plus the unending supercilious condescension
of some filthy rich strangers.
Let me explain.
After meditating on the issue, I've decided that there is no way for
anyone to continue living the life that they do, have the family that
they do, and talk to the friends that they do have after winning, say,
ten, twenty, or a hundred million dollars or more in lottery.
For one thing, after hitting the jackpot, it would be next to
impossible to continue working at one's day job.
Next, would come the house. It would be again next to impossible to
continue to live in the same house. Since for just a "few million
dollars" one can always find a "dream house" with a dream scenery, it
wouldn't be long before a big moving van parks in front, loading up
for the trip to the "millionaires club."
But while you quit your job and move to the Dream Land there would be
considerable ill will and resentment from all around.
Your relatives, friends and ex-coworkers, for one, would hate you for
leaving the rat race behind only on account of tremendous dumb luck.
So unless you share almost all your money with them, they'd be so
upset with you that they probably would not want to see your face
anymore in their homes and barbecue parties. And you'd be sitting
there by your new in-ground pool, scratching your head while sipping
your power drink as to why nobody is returning your phone calls
anymore.
Your "new neighbors," on the other hand, those who live in the other
$5 Million dollar mansions by the bay and next to the Country Club,
would probably also resent your presence because you dropped into
their midst by the lottery parachute and did not "really earn
it" ( how true). So in order to ingratiate yourself to their graces
you would start spending obscene lumps of money on stuff that never
mattered to you before, like spending your winters at the correct
vacation resort on the Swiss Alps.
You would soon discover that buying the good will of the Upper Class
and building a new and permanent "profile of success" require the kind
of cash flow that even a national lottery cannot supply.
Hit from both ends of the social spectrum by increasing demands to
prove your bona fides and "authenticity," you'd probably start
wondering whether winning the darn lottery was such a good idea after
all.
That's why I say, do include all big-time lottery winners in your
prayers because most if not all of them are probably in severe need of
our genuine compassion as well.
So, having said all that, what do I do now with this fresh Power Ball
ticket that I've just bought from a 7-Eleven on the way home from
work?
http://groups.google.com/group/lotteryhdy