Yesterday (Monday, September 29), the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777 points, the largest one-day decline in the history of this esteemed financial icon. Yesterday the United States House of Representatives failed to pass the so-called “bail out of Wall Street” legislation with conservatives and liberals joining forces to defeat the proposed bill. Yesterday Mike Cole, Platte Woods Church Staff-Parish Relations Committee Chair, sent our staff an article suggesting challenging economic times call for non-profits (including churches) to work strategically in order to meet budget goals.
Yesterday’s events once again reminded me we live in interesting and challenging times.
I don’t know if the 777 number has any special meaning. I do not believe in numerology. Some folks might read something mystical into the 777 point decline experienced by the Dow Jones. About all I read into that number is that it is a big number which undoubtedly had a negative impact on my retirement savings. The 777 number reminds me we live in interesting and challenging times.
I don’t know if the failure to pass the “bail out of Wall Street” $700 billion legislation has any special meaning. I listened to the pundits on NPR, as well as the FOX News Network. It is fascinating to hear how the left wing and the right wing together defeated the proposal. Now there is talk of renewed cooperation to craft amended legislation. Such behavior reminds me we live in interesting and challenging times.
I don’t know if the economic condition we presently experience has any special meaning to our church. I do not know how it cannot. We know our church’s ability to do the work of God is dependent on voluntary contributions. Our church is always challenged to wisely use our financial resources. Doing so during periods of economical upheaval reminds me we live in interesting and challenging times.
What I do know is we are part of an extremely carrying and sharing Christian community. No matter what the external numbers tell us, we will survive and even thrive. As the financial indicators have ups and downs, so will our congregation. Yet as we do ministry in the days and weeks ahead we will find we live in interesting and challenging times. God help us make the most of the opportunities which are ours.
