Laying Low in the Midst of the Storm
Been laying low these past few weeks. So much info - most of it a waste of time - bombards all of us, I just figured anything I had to say would just be one more hail stone among thousands. Who needs it?
Besides, trying to process all that's gone on and continues to go on in the economy and the markets requires a lot of time these days. Having the responsibility of helping others keep their money - and, in many ways, their lives - relatively safe and secure is no light matter.
But I will share something today. It's likely a bit different than the usual babble that tickles our senses, but dims our intellects.
When the rioting broke out, almost at the same time the demonstrations over Mr. Floyd's death, I happened to be reading Isaiah Chapter 9 as part of my usual morning routine of reading some Sacred Scripture. (Keeps my heart, mind, and soul in sync.) The prophet here acknowledges God's help for his people who have been oppressed:
"For the yoke of their, burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome..."
Here's the part that really grabbed me:
"For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire."
An apt description of what was swirling around us.
And make no mistake, it was swirling very close to home. Living in a city we saw lots of violence: riots, looting, people injured, people killed. And having a family member who's with NYPD and who was in the thick of the worst of the rioting, we knew first hand what was really happening, vs. the way the media reported events.
Anyway, Isaiah follows his reference to mayhem with one of his most famous and oft-quoted passages:
"For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
Read those verses again and think about it. The one and only answer to what has descended upon us lies within those inspired words.
Whatever your current circumstances, whatever challenges you have faced and will face as this mess continues, I wish you peace.
Besides, trying to process all that's gone on and continues to go on in the economy and the markets requires a lot of time these days. Having the responsibility of helping others keep their money - and, in many ways, their lives - relatively safe and secure is no light matter.
But I will share something today. It's likely a bit different than the usual babble that tickles our senses, but dims our intellects.
When the rioting broke out, almost at the same time the demonstrations over Mr. Floyd's death, I happened to be reading Isaiah Chapter 9 as part of my usual morning routine of reading some Sacred Scripture. (Keeps my heart, mind, and soul in sync.) The prophet here acknowledges God's help for his people who have been oppressed:
"For the yoke of their, burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome..."
Here's the part that really grabbed me:
"For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire."
An apt description of what was swirling around us.
And make no mistake, it was swirling very close to home. Living in a city we saw lots of violence: riots, looting, people injured, people killed. And having a family member who's with NYPD and who was in the thick of the worst of the rioting, we knew first hand what was really happening, vs. the way the media reported events.
Anyway, Isaiah follows his reference to mayhem with one of his most famous and oft-quoted passages:
"For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
Read those verses again and think about it. The one and only answer to what has descended upon us lies within those inspired words.
Whatever your current circumstances, whatever challenges you have faced and will face as this mess continues, I wish you peace.
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