In some parts of the world, it is already the New Year, but the same old angst of death and destruction holds sway. This is especially true in the Middle East, where old feuds are forcing themselves into a new year, as they have done, decade after decade. In the 1980's some celebrity singers were assembled into a band called Band Aid, for the purpose of putting out a record called "Do They Know It's Christmas?" The noble goal was to pour resources into fighting famine in Ethiopia. Not even a re-assembled Band Aid can solve this long-running feud between the nation of Israel and those who wish to see Israel become Atlantis. There isn't a band aid large enough to wrap around the open, pulsating political wound that appears to be a permanent part of that landscape. My heart goes out to the civilians on both sides of this conflict, and hopefully, hopefully peace can be brought about in our lifetime. Hopefully......

In the US, this New Year may not be ushering in armed conflict, but the economic "wars" are creating a number of casualties. So far this year, about 25 banks have failed. Those were the ones that I guess were not considered large enough to benefit from the $700 billion bailout. The bank failures and bailout of those upon whom the financial gods have smiled, have exposed the frighteningly cozy relationship between our esteemed legislators, many of whom have turned out to be fiduciary foxes in henhouses of economic chicanery, in too many instances.

Lost somewhere in the rush to rescue banks "too big to fail," is the fact that about two million employees have been separated from their jobs, in this year which is limping into the history books. It appears that the financial equation is: Get a bailout, fire employees. Get more bailout money, fire more employees. I wonder of those doing the firing realize that they are depriving Uncle Sam, their bailout partner, of the opportunity to collect taxpayer bailout contributions from these fired employees. These employees are being shoved off of the bailout bandwagon, when they could be "voluntarily" contributing their portion of bailout dollars, of which estimates vary from almost four thousand to seven thousand, per taxpayer. I personally will have to work anywhere from six months to ten years, depending on if I am allowed to be given a  stipend  for necessities such as food and shelter. Six months means that I get no stipend, and will probably be "nearer my God to thee!"

So how does one survive the seemingly incestuous relationship between politicians and bailout partners, partners who contributed chunks of "change" to the coffers of the "regulators," when one does not have the means to affect legislation, because one is close to the "brother can you spare a dime" dilemma? Where does one find comfort to face a new year potentially filled with old problems?  What works for me? How can I maintain my joy in the face of a country that one Russian "philosopher" is predicting will fail completely by 2010, and be separated into fragments? Which fragment will I live in?

Well, here is my solution. I have gone to the Source of all joy and I feel exhilarated, knowing that He is conducting the song that is my life, placing down the lyrics, in the form of friends and family, and piping in the melody, His love and grace! Join me in reading His word and finding comfort amid political and economic storms. May we all rediscover that money is necessary for survival but not for joy. I am at the stage where I live by the words of Agur in Proverbs 30, especially verses 5, and 8-9. I find this "clinging to God' thing is working out really well for me. I keep clinging and exulting! His "bailout" is priceless.

Proverbs 30:1, 5-9

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

  5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Proverbs 18:10, 24