Faith and the Economic Crisis
Posted on February 6th, 2009 No Comments »
By Holly McCarthy
With the economic crisis worsening and many speculating that far more bad news is on the horizon, many people have gone to disturbing extremes when dealing with their situations. There are other things to do when disaster strikes, and faith is one thing that can help you and others weather the storm.
Compassion
Showing compassion for your fellows is one approach to dealing with times of crisis. If you are able to help others in need or not, compassion for others goes a long way in helping us to realize that we are all being affected. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the “better him than me” trap; situations change and tables can turn.
Empathy
Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for a change. Practicing empathy helps us not only to be thankful for that which we have, but often is a call for action. Be willing to take on different perspectives and see what you can do to help rectify the situation. Every little bit helps.
Humility
Often, we feel like our lives are on a certain course and that planning for the future is a way of ensuring that we don’t fall too hard in life. Economic crises reawaken our sensitivity to many things, among them the realization that even the best laid plans often go awry. Realizing that we aren’t always the ones in control of our destinies helps bring back a much-needed sense of humility and helps us band together for a common cause.
Service
Crises are also opportunities to rise above the daily struggle and beyond our comfort zones into the realm of service. What better way to help your fellow human beings than by doing whatever you can to make sure those less fortunate still live with the essentials? Offering time, money, or other Christian services to work toward overcoming great obstacles puts your faith into action and renews togetherness in communities and breaks down barriers.
Spirituality
The worst thing a person can do during tough times is to lose hope. Faith, and spirituality are great sources of strength that will help you to weather the storm, which you can make stronger with a Christian college education. Open your heart and stop focusing on the negative. Have faith and know that better times are around the corner.
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