Government's missteps and right steps — what is our part?

"We can pray for our country."

By Alessandra P. Colombini

Brazil's ardently longed-for economic stability seemed to be falling apart day after day, with rumors, successive dips in the currency, and not very convincing speeches. A friend called me, angry and disgusted; he needed to talk to someone. As the owner of a small business, he was feeling firsthand the effects of the events, and with a degree in economics, he was convinced that the attitudes and steps taken by those in governing positions were wrong and counterproductive.

My friend was not an exception; not only in Brazil but elsewhere many people were, and still are, feeling like helpless victims of economic and governmental instability. Is there something that we, the people, can do?

In thinking about all this, I found interesting parallels in the book of the prophet Jeremiah. The Scriptures are a kind of "sampler" of all types of human behavior and events. Although they refer to events thousands of years ago, they reveal more similarities to than differences from our times. It's not surprising that the inspired teachings of the Bible are as valid today as when they were first recorded.