Stressmas #2

This Christmas will find many of us stressed, anxious and worried about our finances.  A journalist from Washington says we are “hurtling toward what could be the hardest hard times since the Great Depression.”  Over the past couple of weeks I kept a list of some headlines in the news concerning our economic condition.  One of them says, Another half-million jobs vanish; unemployment rate reaches 6.7%.  Another one says, Tribune Co. files for bankruptcy protection.  Another one–Sony to trim 8000 jobs and reduce inventory.  One story opens with this–“The crumbling housing market is at the heart of the financial crisis that tipped the United States into recession and dragged down the global economy.”

It seems like our whole world is on overload with financial stress, and this Christmas season doesn’t seem to be bringing any relief.  Shoppers around the country say they are planning to spend an average of $431 for gifts this holiday season, down from $859 last year according to the American Research Group. The overall average planned spending is down almost 50% from 2007 which is the lowest level of planned spending since 1991.  

So…how about you?  Is your Christmas turning into “stressmas”?  Are you glued to the financial news?  Do you check the stock market and prices frequently?  Are you having difficulty sleeping?  Are you on edge, tense or nervous?  If so, according to “The MarketPsych Guide,” you need to learn to manage financial stress.  Here’s the wisdom they offer.  And let me preface this by saying that some of these may be helpful…but I for one believe there’s got to be more than this!  So here we go.  Technique #1: Practice relaxation breathing techniques, meditation, or yoga.  Technique #2: Use aromatherapy scents and herbal teas.  Technique #3: Take warm baths and play soft music.  Technique #4: Avoid drinking alcohol more than two drinks per day, and don’t consume illegal drugs.  Technique #5: Hire a coach so you can get started with and stick to a healthy, stress-free lifestyle.

Now, I’m all for warm baths, soft music, and trying to breathe a little calmer, but surely there’s more to it than that.  My question is: DOES FOLLOWING JESUS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HOW WE HANDLE STRESS?  Do we live compartmentalized lives, where we do our “church thing” in one compartment, and then we live “real life” (such as handling financial stress) in another compartment?

I’m intrigued by the “secret” the Apostle Paul shared in Philippians 4:10-13.  He says he has learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, “whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Sounds pretty applicable to a lot of us this Christmas season.  So what is the “secret” he learned?  He tells us in verse 13–”I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”  God took on human flesh and became a Baby who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and PRINCE OF PEACE.  All of life is to be centered around the very One who created us and who sustains us.  But we have a choice in the matter.  We can center our lives around Him and LEARN to be content, or we can go our own way and try other “techniques” to erase the stress in our lives.  I, for one, choose the way of Christ, the way of the cross, and the way of peace.  I hope you’ll join me.

About this entry

You’re currently reading “Stressmas #2,” an entry on Rick Grover’s Weblog

Published:
December 10, 2008 / 3:35 pm
Category:
Stressmas
Tags: