Absurd Courage

A realistic approach to the cost of living crisis

A world gone mad.

It is July 2024 when I am writing this. The world is raging over the rising cost of living. The net household income is declining as massive layoffs, paycuts and businesses closing down has become the new normal. Basic necessities cost more than luxuries used to.

Many people have to choose between buying groceries or paying rent. You know it’s bad when even the bourgeoisie are complaining. How long until we are buried in debt and have nothing to eat? Getting married and having children is increasingly seeming like a reserve for the rich or the reckless. What are we supposed to do?

Dread and serenity all at once.

Whenever I think about the state of the global economy and specifically my own earning potential, I am drawn in two extremes. The grim reality of a volatile post pandemic world with wars, civil unrest and unrelenting natural disasters drives me to anxiety. But knowing God, His love and care for me gives me hope. I often find myself between those two worlds. Dread one moment and serenity the next. It is the madness of our time.

I have taken to quiet walks and frantic internet searches on how to be frugal. In my quiet walks, I often remember the story of Isaac in Genesis chapter 26 – the man who reaped a hundred fold in the middle of a famine because the Lord blessed Him. I am comforted by the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This is what I am calling absurd courage. There are no guarantees for tomorrow but that won’t stop us from having peace of mind and living and working. It is the madness we find ourselves in – trying and failing and trying again. The insanity of those who live when others barely survive. It is like Shackleton’s crew, lost and almost certain of death on Elephant Island but filling their days with song and dance and laughter as they battle against hunger, cold and death.

In Genesis 26, worried about the famine, Isaac decides to move from where he was staying. But God tells him that he will bless him right where he is. So Isaac obeys God, gets to working on his farm and thrives.

In that Matthew 6, Jesus asks, “which one of you by worrying, can add a single hour to his life? So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus is not saying do not plan for the future, but simply, do not worry. Do what you need to do and leave the results to God.

Marcus Aurelius once said, "never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present." This is not me telling you that everything’s going to be okay if you just ignore it.

This is me telling you and myself that we will probably be okay if we pray, adapt, plan and just keep taking one day at a time. The most important thing we need in a time of crisis is faith in God and guidance from Him. The truth is that human beings have been created to be resilient and we are not any different.

Do come back for more.

I have curated the wisdom and ideas of people more experienced that I on how to whether through a recession into a few articles that I intend to share over the next few weeks. If you enjoyed this article, you may enjoy those ones as well so please stick around. You can also share this article to spread hope to others who need it.