Thursday, February 19, 2009

Worst thing would be a recovery for this nation to how we lived before; use hard times to change

In talking the past two days to two people very close to me as friends and the model of conduct they display, both told me the same thing as were discussing the economic downturn and the impact on families.

Their conclusion: This nation and this state does not need to return how we were before.

Why?

Materialism to a gross scale ruined us. We were part of the problem that led to the housing program, lured into believing we should buy something we could not afford. It has been the same in buying everything from boats to televisions the size of Volkswagens to giving our children every bit of technology in their rooms and sending them off to so many activities that it lessened their times in the home with their own family.

Busy schedules resulted in us turning our backs on neighbors and friends needing help or simple words of kind support. Most of all, busy schedules took us away from God and his will, I'm not talking about saying prayers and going to church on Sunday. I'm talking about taking the time to draw closer to him in how much we're involved with those in need and our actual worship services. Stewardship. And people in need are not necessarily the homeless. They are right in our community, they are right in our pews, if we take the time to look.

But we haven't.

God didn't bring this economic downturn on us as one prominent Catholic cardinal proclaimed last weekend. God brings to us choices afterward, to change our lives for the better, whether you get leukemia or laid off or just live in heightened fear of the unknown.

So any hopes of recovery should not be aimed at what we once enjoyed or the income and things we once possessed. The recovery should be geared to who we are, and the better people we should become.

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