Ho Ho Ho…Who are you Listening to?

I appreciate the great discussion here!  Interesting to see how different parts of the nation are responding, even how different people in same geographic region are responding.

For the record, I don't doubt we have fallen upon economic hard times.  My husband works for a trucking company and nearly every day he has a new story of a business laying off employees or shutting their doors permanently.  It is happening.  And it is heartwrenching to hear the stories of families who are being affected.

In good times and in bad times listening to the wrong voices can instill fear where it need not be.  That is true whether we are talking about our finances, our health, our relationships or our career.  We have to use wisdom.  But in bad times, when we are surrounded by misfortune, our minds can go quickly to fear and stay there.  During these moments those dangerous misleading voices can seem louder and more persuasive.  

So especially now it is particularly good to hear the positive...not to delude ourselves into a false sense of security but to protect ourselves from an unhealthy melancholy.  Proper perspective allows us to listen to everyone's voice with a sense of reason.

This recession thing, I'm sure it's touching people everywhere but let me share a story from the past week.  We were in Oklahoma City enjoying a horse show and sale.  Sales would surely be down, right?  Instead a 2-year old quarter horse colt sold for $240,000 -- an all-time sales record for the association.  The arena was packed with buyers.  P. S. we didn't buy-we looked, which is a lot cheaper!

Ruth

I am certain you are right about NYC while you were there, but a friend of mine who lives in Manhatten was being transported through the main shopping district became so alarmed, she called me as soon as she arrived home.  She and the driver  were stunned at the small amount of shoppers and attributed it to the economy.  She and her husband entertains and have felt the brunt from lack of engagements and have taken note of a decrease of people eating in fine restaurants etc.  She called so we could pray together, not for our country to be blessed with the same favour as we have enjoyed for years and have mistakenly considered our luxuries for necessities.  It is painful now that everything is coming into proper perspective.  I believe in the end, we will be a more thankful, appreciative people and we will have our values in order which will be a blessing to our homes and children on up to our country and world.  

Janey:

I am totally laughing at your blog tonight because the same thing happened to me this past weekend in NYC!!  My parents took my sister and me to "the big apple" for my 40th birthday.  My mom's logical thinking declared, "We should be able to see whatever plays we want, shop the streets, and sightsee with virtual ease around the dazed financial district and Broadway...the country is in a recession and there will be hardly anyone there!!"  

She could not have been more wrong!!  Plays were SOLD OUT, streets were PACKED, and it was elbow to elbow from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building!!!  

If the USA is in a recession, someone forgot to tell the Americans!!