Daily reflection _ consumer confidence

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
All the disciples could see was "not enough." Jesus saw that small act of faith as "plenty."
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
As I read about the challenging world of Wall Street and investing there is an indicator that experts use to project tendencies and trends in future market performance. It is called the index of consumer confidence. While I do not profess to fully understand how this index is measured or monitored, it is clear that some economics put great stock in the collective attitude of the buying public. The other indicators are more easily measured and counted - gross national product, cumulative debt loads, amounts of unsold inventories, unemployment statistics, interest rates, and profit-loss statements. But what is this "consumer confidence" index? Apparently the stock market is influenced in a measurable way by the mere attitude of hope, of confidence, in the future of the market itself. If the consumer thinks things are going well, and that the best is yet to be, then the consumer is willing to take risks, invest more money, buy more products, which in turn allows the businesses to make more products, hire more people, and turn more profit. What happens next is a "Bright Future."
But equally, when "consumer confidence" is low, the consumer buys less, invests more conservatively, causing businesses to slash prices, lowering profits, and thus people are laid off, and the market goes down. So much rides on the subjective feelings of the consumer. And sometimes those feelings, that level of confidence is unrelated to objective reality. It all depends on the confidence, the sense of hope, in the consumer.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for us in the spiritual life as well. How much of our lives revolve on the sense within us of life's scarcity or abundance, of despair or hope? Often, I would think. The sense of confidence, that perception of plenty and want, is a major force moving our lives. The Gospel of John for this Sunday features a story from the ministry of Jesus that illustrates this very point. In the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus teaches us to live from a position of faith in God, and to trust that God's provision allows us to live out of the exuberant sense of abundance, rather than the crippling of scarcity.
Jesus was surrounded by over 5000 people on that hillside long ago. And in the evening stomachs began to grumble. Perhaps the disciples feared that grumbling stomachs might lead to grumbling spirits, and the peaceful assembly might deteriorate into a riot. Hunger and fear do strange things to most people. The disciples could only see the overwhelming lack of resources in the face of enormous need; a little boy, a few loaves and fishes. What good are these for so many? "Two hundred days wages would not be enough to buy food for everyone."
Perhaps the multitude felt the same way. Maybe some of them had a little bit of food stashed away for the day's journey, but seeing such a great crowd and seeing no provision made them hold on tightly to what they had for themselves.
When the attitude is like this, everything is impossible. This is not the way Jesus wants us to live our lives.
Jesus asked his disciples, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" It was a test question. Not a trick question, but a test. It was a question designed to awaken their spirit, to teach them, and us, a valuable lesson about life. Notice the word "we." God does not send us out in this world without him. We are not left just to our own resources or wisdom. Our heavenly Father doesn't just have us sit back do nothing either. No, Jesus wanted us to know that we are partnering with our Father in this world. We can join him in hope, vision and faith. We can have a sense of plenty.
The disciples only saw what might go wrong. Jesus only saw an opportunity for something wonderful. All the disciples could see was "not enough." Jesus saw that small act of faith as "plenty."
Jesus whispers into our ear from this miracle. There is always enough. It is our fear that keeps us from seeing it, or believing it. God has provided enough, even if you and I cannot see it all the time.
"Consumers" may find it difficult to stay confident. It is when they learn to put their confidence in the "provider" that this will change.