The Great Depression?

Many have been comparing our world's present financial troubles with the "Great Depression" of the 30's. It's interesting how we're always trying to define our present with the past. I, for one, think the comparison is a stretch. It's like comparing America's military experience of the war in Iraq with Vietnam. In Iraq, we're in between 4,000 and 5,000 of our military dead in a war that is now past 5 years old. We lost 10 times this many in Vietnam, maybe more. The comparison between them is thin. The other major 20th Century wars count their dead in the millions. The other day I read that Greenwich, CT, the home of many Wall Street types who may now be trying to wear disguises if they go out in public, is referring to the present financial turmoil as their 9/11, their Katrina, their Tsunami. Wow. Talk about a stretch. As I look over the landscape of our present woes, I sense something different than tragedy. I sense the truth. The truth is coming out. Financial lies are being exposed. They say it's all about confidence. Much of what people are losing confidence in is ... fraud. Maybe this is a good thing to lose confidence in. In John 8, Jesus says that the truth will set us free. I wonder if freedom will be an unexpected fruit of the declining stock market. I wonder how many people may actually live better lives, now that the money game they were investing themselves in has run out of gas. I wonder how many children will have parents again. I wonder how many neighbors will start caring for each other again. I wonder how many people will start living for what matters. I wonder how full the churches will get, if things get really bad. I wonder how many people will - upon losing what they see as everything - find faith in Christ. I wonder. What some say will be another Great Depression maybe actually be a great revival. We'll see.