I hear real

estate investing is a strong and growing trend, "a safer way to invest

money." To some, buying second homes, rental property and land has

become more attractive than investing in the stock market. I find that

interesting. Perhaps I can understand it to a degree.

However, if

we continue to lose faith in the CEOs and CFOs who are running America's

businesses, if we continue to live in fear of war or terror attacks, if

we continue to shy away from the stock market even to the point of being

afraid to participate in company 401k opportunities, then eventually it

seems to me money flow is going to dry up.

The Lord knows,

and you guys do, too, that I'm no economist. In fact, books of numbers,

especially when they have dollar signs in them, have always intimidated

me. It's just that, since 9/11, I've found myself observing what fear

can do to a people.

Let me try

to explain how I'm thinking. And let me invite you to respond to this

paper or to me directly at [email protected]. As I share my thoughts,

please know that I would love to hear yours.

In my own mind

there are two schools of thought that support the downturn in our economy.

One line of thinking supports the theory (my own) that Americans have

had enough. Keeping up with the Joneses is no longer our number one goal.

Obtaining more and better, as in "the latest," does not appeal

to us like it once did. Though our economic system must adjust, this is

not necessarily bad.

My second line

of thought tells me Americans are scared. This is bad.

Regardless

of the reason we stop spending or buying, when we do so the companies

we have patronized in the past start to hurt financially. They cut back

on their expenditures. Eventually, they may lay off workers. Then those

workers have less or no money to spend. And though they may not have chosen

in the past to cut back, when they become jobless they are forced to join

that growing number of individuals who have chosen to cut spending.

A friend of

mine has this economic theory that I find interesting. It has to do with

what happened during and after World War II when women (wives and mothers)

were drawn into the market place. My friend says some unseen, but very

powerful, behind-the-scenes force saw a way to really grow the American

economy if husbands and wives could be kept in the marketplace.

And so many

moms stayed in the workplace. Their daughters grew up knowing by the example

set for them that they belonged there too. And before long these women

was setting the example for all little girls throughout America and perhaps

the whole world.

So what did

the economy have to do with this? My friend maintains that cost of goods

rose so much that it became necessary for both mothers and fathers to

work in order to own a home and two cars. He suggests that we have been

manipulated as a society by big business.

I'm not agreeing.

I'm thinking, but I'm not just thinking. Let me tell you what I'm

doing.

Since my surgery

in August I have not been able to be as active as I would like. One of

the things I have done to keep my mind busy is to try to learn more about

the stock market.

Quite aware

of our present economic turmoil, I talked Daniel into letting me invest

in a few penny stocks. (He's brave.) I researched my stocks and two weeks

ago I bought four. Now one is up 12 cents to 1.53, one is down 11 cents

to 5.39, one is down a penny to 55 cents, while the fourth is up 40 cents

to 69 cents from 29 cents.

Now these stocks

are probably not anything special. And I only know enough at this point

about the stock market to know that I really know nothing. So why invest?

Because I want

to believe in America. I want to trust that there are still businessmen

in this land who act wisely and morally. So I'm buying and praying. Yep,

praying for the leaders of my little companies, and for the leaders of

Bell South and Delta Air Lines and AIG and so many other companies, as

well as local governments, that are the backbone of our Georgia economy.

Please join me in this prayer. Prayer can change things as it changes

people.

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