Finding the Way Home
The eNewsletter Archive

Below is the archived version of Marshall Hayden's eNewesletter "Finding the Way Home." If you would like to be added to to mailing list, please send a blank email to evangelism-subscribe@worthingtoncc.org.

You may also view our archived articles here.

March 2009

Recession, Depression, or Blessing?

Our first response to that question would be "well, I know the one that this is not." Have you heard that unemployment is between eight and ten percent, and that we have almost a dozen primary bread-winners in the church who are earnestly working to find work? Have you looked at your 401K? Did you notice yesterday's free-fall in the Dow Jones industrial average? Have you talked with Mark Henson about the average above-mortgage debt load registered in the Sunday evening "Financial Peace University" class of almost a hundred family units?

Recession, depression, softening of the economy — it's all bad! Houses are worth less than the mortgages owed the financial institutions, even after families have made years of payments. Eagerly anticipated adventures are being cancelled. State, city, and school system budgets are so tight that programs and salary increases and projects are being cancelled; and more layoffs are imminent.

It's hard to find any good news. But I believe that there is some.

• Spending is down and saving is up. People are discovering that they don't have to have all the stuff that they thought they just had to have. And they are sensing an increased level of responsibility.
  
  
• Several in the church family who are really "under the gun" are finding that long-time friends and new-found sisters & brothers are stepping up with a helping hand. And between personal carefulness and friendly generosity they are continuing on.
  
  
• Many are discovering that the words of Jesus are true. "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." The genuine pleasures of an earlier, simpler time are being rediscovered.
  
  
• The pressures of this season have drawn a large and appreciative group to listen to a Christian financial advisor who has help for many who are doing what the apostle John passes along to the representative Christians and fellowships addressed in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
  
  
• Families are spending more time together. Life groups are praying with and for each other. A number of people are staying closer to home on Sundays, and being in church together. As spring arrives I'll bet that the municipal parks will see more people out for healthy hikes and family picnics.
  
  
• Embarrassed corporations have slowed down their distribution of unconscionable bonuses lavished on unsuccessful executives; and under the national scrutiny have cancelled hedonistic getaways disguised as planning retreats. Integrity and morality are actually being applauded.

More prosperous times will probably return. It is my prayer that the blessings discovered during leaner days will continue rather than being forgotten, and there will be a new "business as usual" led by the followers of Jesus, who realize that in him, not in government or in affluence or any other thing is "life... to the full."