In Uncertain Times

-RWC

Like many of us, I am watching the stock market in free fall. I am also aware of the effects of unemployment and the foreclosure crisis in the parish where I serve. Athens County is in the heart of Appalachian Ohio and is one of the poorest counties in Ohio. The economy is as bad here as anywhere, except maybe for parts of Michigan, our neighbor to the north, or of West Virginia (far nearer to this part of the state, and in fact closer to our house than Columbus).

We are in the middle of a presidential campaign, but truth is, politicians are at best a penultimate hope. In these uncertain times, we ought to keep our hope set on Christ, the one leader who never lets us down. For my part, I am convinced that Jesus will continue to lead us through the wilderness until he brings us safely home.

None of this is to say that we shouldn't be politically engaged. As one of my teachers used to say, Christians have a political vocation. That vocation has to do with an unswerving dedication to truth and the common good. We serve the common good best, I believe, when we keep the needs of the poor, whom God loves with a preferential love, front and center. With the biggest election in memory less than a month away, we need to weigh proposals carefully, we need to hold candidates' feet to the fire, and we need to get out and vote, perhaps even organize and canvass. There are massive differences between the candidates, and much is riding on this election, especially for God's poor.

Politics at its best is a means to an end. Human beings get together and make decisions about pursuing the common good as they understand it. But whatever the outcome, we are likely in for a rocky spell. We will need the creativity, toughness, and interdependence that characterize the people of our nation at their very best. We will also need the social witness of God's Church. People who would have never thought of themselves as poor are losing their jobs and, in some cases, losing their homes.

If you belong to a congregation like ours, you are probably facing some difficult budget choices as you enter a season dedicated to financial stewardship. As an outsider to your congregations, I would urge those of you who can to consider giving more. There will be anxious people who tighten their fists, and there will be others who need to trim back on charitable giving of all kinds and in precisely the hour when it is needed most. I would urge you to insist that your congregations reach out to those who are being affected by this crisis. Our own outreach committee has decided to raise an additional amount beyond what is budgeted, to help God feed the poor.Times of crisis are also opportunities for mission, if indeed our hope is set on Christ.