By Paul Proctor

January 23, 2008

When the stock market crashes - and I mean really crashes, we won't care about Britney Spears anymore. We won't care about Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse, Jessica Simpson, or anyone else in Hollywood struggling through their fame and misfortune.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about the Oscars - what the nominees will be wearing on the red carpet - the writer's strike - who crossed the picket lines - those pesky paparazzi or any of our once-favorite TV shows with or without scripts - no, not even American Idol.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about Al Gore's inconvenient truth - greenhouse gases - carbon footprints - the ozone layer - the plight of the polar bear - Bill Gates' retirement - the Clinton/Obama feud - Dr. Phil's celebrity interventions - who's on Oprah or Martin Luther King's dream.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - finding bin Laden - spreading democracy - the oil shortage - the November elections - the EIB network - how many days Bush has left in office or whether a white man, a black man or a woman will replace him.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about the NFL playoffs - the Super Bowl - Tom Brady's bum foot, the New England Patriot's perfect season - whether Eli Manning will get a Super Bowl ring like his brother - who Tony Romo is presently dating in Dallas or whether the Tennessee Titans will keep Pacman Jones when his suspension is up.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about the power of positive thinking - the prayer of Jabez - a purpose driven life - global peace plans - the Aids epidemic - third world debt - seeker-sensitivity or which prosperity preacher is currently under investigation.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about our new year's resolutions - our expanding waistlines - clothes that don't fit - bad hair days - low-carb diets - reading nutritional labels - or keeping up with the Joneses.

When the stock market crashes, we won't care anymore about rush hour traffic - $3 a gallon gas - new car prices - where to go on vacation - where to find good sushi - asking the boss for a raise - pushing him for a promotion or just quitting altogether to find another job.

 When the stock market crashes, I wonder what will be important to us? In light of recent events, it's certainly a possibility - many would say, a probability.

Could it be that, under such circumstances, we might rediscover some old-fashioned values - the faith, morals, principles, ethics and ideals of days gone by - the forgotten priorities and biblical standards of our grandparents and great grandparents who lived through the Great Depression?

When the stock market crashes - will it be a tragedy or a blessing - a loss or a gain?

I suppose it depends on where your treasure is, doesn't it?

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:21  What are your thoughts on this article?