When What Happened Doesn’t Matter

So you got yourself in a bind.  Again.

Except this time, you really don’t know what to do.  Looking over receipts, double-checking your math, reviewing old paystubs will only remind you that you have driven on a beautiful, well-paved road only to find yourself at a dead-end. The first couple of times, it was okay—you had it all taken care of.  You even had a back-up plan in case things didn’t go so well.  You amazed your family and even yourself with how you were able to flirt with financial fire without getting burned.  Perhaps you were good with money or just plain lucky.

So what happened this time?  Where did you go wrong?  Suddenly you have realized you are not only running out of money and options but you are running out of time.  What’s different this time is that you are not in your thirties any more.  Or your forties.  Perhaps you just entered your fifties.  Congratulations! You, like many Americans are finding yourself lost in a decade where opportunities are fewer, investment losses are greater, and your life expectancy is longer.

So what do you do?  Well, I can’t say there is any investment that is going to reward you for procrastination and your poor planning.  What I can say is now is the time to get your head on straight and take control of these important and dramatic last plays in the game.

For some of you, the more timeouts we have left could actually help squeeze out a victory.  For many of you, you will have to become confident enough to either risk it all for the big win or simply learn how to lose this game while keeping your dignity and family intact.

Asking yourself what happened and how I got here is only going to help you when you have matured enough to realize you have probably been wrong when it comes to money for a very long time.  Not only did you get caught red-handed this time, you now understand that have been cooking this recipe for disaster for years.

Remember your first brand new car?  How about when you purchased your second brand new car using your first car as down payment? Do you remember your first home purchase?  How about your wedding, your baby’s first Christmas, and the timeshare you purchased on your first family vacation?

As you can see, the common thread to every purchase that has gotten you to this place of financial ruin is emotion.  Every one of these decisions was influenced by some powerful emotion you felt at the time of purchase.

The good Lord knows that I am not trying rain on your parade.  I want to help you create new memories.  Those who give up on God and choose financial heartache will only be left with memories of purchases of the past.  And you will remember them well.

What’s important is that you realize emotion will not get you out of this mess.  You can scream and shout all you want but you will still have to face the music sooner or later.  Going out to eat every night to mourn your defeat isn’t going to help either.  It’s just going to make you fat and turn your money into something you can certainly flush down the toilet.

The fact is, to some degree, it is not all your fault—but it is one-hundred percent your problem.  You see, American society has raised us to believe everyone has a shot at the “American dream”.  What most people don’t readily accept is that our society’s interpretation of this dream is out of reach for many.  Contrary to popular belief, everyone can not afford to own their own home, drive luxury cars, wear designer clothing, and go out to eat every evening.

With every seller competing for the same dollar, it forces our society to rely on credit to finance the things we want now when there aren’t enough dollars to go around.  Over our lifetime, we will eventually begin consuming less goods and utilizing less services while maintaining a level or increasing payment towards debt throughout our lifetime to pay for the totalilty of things consumed.

So although you have inherently accepted the agreement to continually have less and less while paying more and more, you are beginning to realize the deals you made in your youth were not in your favor.  And now that you are closer to retirement than ever and the kids are preparing for college, all you can do is say how you messed up.  Except the only problem this time is, the words “I’m sorry” doesn’t seem to resonate well with the family when the words “we have to sell the house” follow.

It’s not all your fault.  You made some big decisions you don’t regret.  After all, the kids had a decent upbringing, the cars in the garage are reliable, the roof has been replaced, your wife has beautiful jewelry, you have a versatile wardrobe… and the list goes on and on.  The only problem is, you have no cash and you are two paychecks away from losing the farm.  Besides, isn’t everybody in the same boat?  I guess the answer to that question only matters if you thought the movie “Titanic” actually had a happy ending.

You must understand: What happened doesn’t matter anymore.  What you will have to show for a lifetime of work is yet to be determined and you are behind the ball.  The odds are stacked against you, but the good news is, the game is not over.  The Lord is on your side and is your sole provider.

Read Phillippians 4:19–
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Believe it. There is still a chance and you must play every move perfectly.  The decisions you make in the next six to twelve months will determine whether you will weather the storm or become a statistic.  You decide.