A Different Kind of Response

Christianity Today's daily dispatch was themed to economic issues today. Reading the two lead stories before the market fell 777 points was mildly irritating. They seemed a little sanctimonious, one reported on how Christian banks and credit unions were doing better than others during the crisis because they didn't take the same risks on credit. The second, much longer piece, was written by the President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. Rereading both articles after the market closed was more striking. Suddenly, the mildly annoying, holier than thou, you are being punished for your sinful, greedy hearts tone had new volume. It was an inescapable drum beat below the otherwise innocuous drone of opinion about the source of the economic meltdown. A day like today, one that the ends with no one feeling safe, is not a day for sermonizing or lecturing or chastising. It is a day for grace, for compassion, for a kind word, for encouragement. That's the BC challenge for tomorrow, as we all tiptoe into the day, waiting to see what happens next, let's chose to be generous in the face of our own fears and those of others. Nothing extraordinary, just find something simple. Give the dollar for breast cancer research at Vons or to animals at Petco. Buy a homeless person lunch. Tip better. Share. Simply share a little of what you have. Do it for the perspective or for the fun of it, do it because giving is a great reminder of how much we have. Do it to prove that the crazy ramblings of some random blogger have no merit or because you know that America is a country of leaders even when the elected ones aren't doing a lot of it. Whatever, just try a little care of your soul and the soul of another, confidence is contagious, generosity is revolutionary.