What if....

...it's not all about money? What if it's not about working to have enough money to buy it all? What if it's not about being happy in our jobs, but about working hard to support our families?

...it's not about finding fulfillment in our careers, but about using our gifts outside of what we are paid for? What if we have to serve our communities, our churches, our neighbors with our gifts and get nothing in return for doing what we love (except the satisfaction that we are doing what we love?

...we could work for 8 hours a day to put food on the table and play for the other 8? And by play, I mean find our fulfillment -- in love, in hobbies, in recreation.

What would our world look like if we built character into our children rather than houses around them? What would government have to do if we educated children that you CAN fail in life if you don't work hard?

While most days, I don't panic about what's happening on Wall Street, I do wonder how we as a nation got here. And I don't have to look far. I was talking to my kids about the crisis the other day. I was pondering (out loud) how I might make ends meet if California really does go broke and can't pay it's teachers. "Don't worry, Miss. The government will take care of you."

Ha. What if the government CAN'T? Then what? We've become a generation happy with handouts and not happy if we have to sweat a little.

My student's next response was "Or you can get a job at McDonalds."
"Right," I said. "I am NOT working at McDonalds."
Whoops! Was that ME? Yes, said with an arrogant tone. I announced to my class that I would not stoop that low. Wow. Since when did I become so entitled to a well-paying, high priority job? What if our entire nation is entitled to well-paying, respectable jobs? Do we sit home when there aren't any?

Lots of thoughts in my head. I can say I'm excited to live in these times. I excited to see where God takes this nation. I'm excited to take some chances. I might have to agree with Iran's leader that this is the beginning of the end...and the humbling begins. I hope this all means we return to the basics. I hope it means a return to faith and a turn from money. I hope it means revival.

No, I pray it means revival.