With the exception of Monday's piece, I have been avoiding the topic of the economy for months because I didn't want to add to the panic so many of us feel, which, in turn, contributes to the crisis: because we stop buying ice-cream cones for our kids, which causes the local ice-cream shop to have to lay off a few of the high school kids who scoop and wash the floors for some change, and so on and so forth.
But it's time to discuss the massive elephant in our living room.
This last Monday morning, I talked on Gus Lloyd's "Seize the Day" radio show (Sirius/XM Satellite) about the pressure of having to generate more income from my writing projects now that, as an architect, my husband has little work. Gus and I chatted about how difficult it is to know when to pursue new work, to be an aggressive businesswoman or man, and brainstorm about future projects, and when it's time to hang up the phone and put away the computer and fold our hands. Because we have done our part.
Two hours after the radio show I headed to David's prayer service, where I told Deacon Moore I needed to light candles for all my friends who have lost their jobs or have had their salaries cut in half. He relayed yet more stories ... of real estate agents with young kids that were in debt, of graduating seniors that are home watching Oprah, of senior citizens whose retirement funds have evaporated and are now job hunting (with the Oprah watchers), at ages 65 and 70.
And I wondered how many of these people are like me: a tad challenged when it comes time to say the serenity prayer. What do I have to accept as something that I cannot change? The recession and economic disaster in this country? The industries that Eric and I have chosen? My dad always said I should have gone into sales, darn it. What can I change? The intensity with which I pound the pavement? The extra hours I work to try to compensate for the loss?
Moreover, I keep asking myself lately: what is God's will, and what is my will?
Is it my will to live in a nice three-bedroom home and send my kids to a fantastic Catholic school? Is it my will to want to go Florida next month? Is it my will to drink Starbucks coffee? Because, as Gus mentioned on his show, so often we look back and can clearly see God's hand in a tragedy or a during very difficult time, even though at the time it was happening, we were clueless and despondent.
I told the radio host about my friend, Michelle, who was fired two years before her husband died, allowing her that time--the best two years of her life, she vows--to be with him as he travelled across the world as an army chaplain. Had she not been fired, she would have missed out.
But I want to understand it (the economic crisis or problem of the day) in present tense: why it's happening, how it ends, and the secret gold in there.
At the end of our radio segment, Gus asked me to give him my 15-second prayer for today.
"I guess it would be this," I said, "God, please help me to keep you in charge today and not to ask so many why's."
"I like that," he replied. "I think I'll say the same."
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First of all I want to thank GOD for asking me to open this today. Boy does he not show us the way, dispite ourselfs. I was not going to open that.
Second, Thank you for taking the time to share those thoughts. Just look how many people it has reached out to and have benifitted from that letter. Boy, it gave me one those LIGHT BULB MOMENTS. Thank you so much...That is so going to be my goal exactly, to get back to basics. Look at the real picture. GOD WILL PROVIDE,If we let him in to do so. Bless you all for your comments as well. They gave me hope that it will be alright. All of us Christians will be alright.
Bless all us each and every day. Have a blessed, healthy, happy and properous New Year everyone.
Regards,
Hope
I have just recently graduated and I thought that it would all fall into line just like clock work. But I have to always remember all the good things that God has done for me and that makes me happy. I have a beautiful family that I was able to spend alot of time with. I just wish that I could know all the answers but I am waiting on God. With that comes the wisdom and strength that I need to make it through this without worrying too much about tomorrow. One day at a time, that helps me not to be so anxious about the future. Because I could be in my final resting place but I woke up this morning and had everything that I needed. Thank you God.
Worrying about the economy, recession, job loss wont help. We have to keep the hope and ride through the recession.
Leave worries to god, and stay calm and peaceful.
God bless!
I think this is where we as a society get to feel what doing without really means. It's uncomfortable to be sure, but it will make us more sympathetic to those who truly have nothing. Hopefully this realization will result in people building smaller homes and refurbishing existing properties, as well as implementing community gardens.
This time will make us stronger spiritually, because for some of us, our faith may be all we have right now. When we lost power for a week after Hurricane Ike, it was one of the best times I've had with my friends and neighbors. The thing to remember is that "No storm lasts forever"
we must truly walk by faith and not by sight for what is seen is temporary and what is not seen is eternal
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