Economics and a Trained Mind

Due to an economics class I’m taking (where they pack an entire semester into 6 weeks), economic issues, policies, theories, and definitions have been on my mind a lot lately. It’s kind of sick, actually, when I realize how much I think about it. For example, I can’t go to the grocery store any more without thinking about scarcity and the marginal benefit of buying one item over another. Then those thoughts will lead me to think about my personal demand compared with the demand of the economy and how that relates to the quantity supplied and whether or not that implies economic efficiency… But it doesn’t just come to mind when I’m dealing with money either; I find myself thinking economically when I choose what to wear in the morning or whether or not I should run the yellow traffic light. I consider the opportunity costs and think about what forgone-alternatives I’d be missing out on. As I think about how much time I spend thinking about economics, I realize that I would much rather be thinking about my Savior and how Beautiful, Good, and True He is. Instead of relating every decision – from how many bananas I should buy to what pair of shoes I will wear – to economics, I would like to be relating it back to God. I think my mind should be ever dwelling on God with thoughts of Him always on my mind. Why? Because nothing else is worth all my time and attention. Ultimately, nothing else, besides Him, matters. How Majestic is His Name in all the earth! What better thing to think about?

But then I wonder… is that even possible? Recently I began reading “Letters By a Modern Mystic,” by Frank Laubach. Essentially, it is a compilation of journals written by a missionary to his father about his “experiment” to keep God on his mind as frequently as possible. Through these letters/journals, he develops an idea he has on turning his thoughts to God at least once a minute, every single minute of the day. Not only does he track his progress in this, but also encourages his readers to do the same. He isn’t asking us to think about God at every second, but just once a minute. At first, I was VERY skeptical about the book and the idea as a whole… how in the world can I keep my thoughts on God ALL day long when I have so much else to do?? I mean, yes, I would love to think about Him all day long, but I know that if I honestly tried to do it I would fail miserably. I was afraid that if I read the book, I would only feel guilty for not being able to think about God consistently. But for some reason, I mustered up the courage to start flipping through the pages. After I got a general idea of the book, I decided I would give the book a try and just give up when I felt too guilty or like it was just impossible (yes, I was considering opportunity costs). I must also admit, then, that at the start I did not give the book a very good read. I skimmed and did not choose to think about the impact of what was being said. But as I continue to read, I am letting down my guard. Ok, so maybe this author isn’t so crazy after all. I think he may have a point. The more we think about God, the more we are focused on glorifying Him, which is our ultimate purpose. Additionally, the more we focus on Him, the more we see Him, recognize His works, and can delight in Him. The only bad thing about it is that it is convicting; the more I think about God, the more I realize my sin and depravity… stuff I’d rather not see or think about. But then isn’t that my prayer? So… the more I think about it, the more I think Laubach may be on to something.

Realizing how much economics has been on my mind makes me think Laubach’s experiment may be more possible than I thought. Economics has been on my mind because I have been studying it sooo much – drawing demand curves, writing essays, studying the class book, taking tests, listening to lectures on it, etc; it is what I have been spending a LOT of time with. Similarly, that’s the only way God will ever remain in our thoughts – when we spend a lot of time with Him, when He is the subject of our study, all our thoughts will have a basis with which to think about Him. And since He is in everything, with His fingerprints all over the world, and since we are to do all things as ultimately working for Him, I believe that He can be the focus of all our studies, if only we are willing to train our minds for it.