Healthcare

Everyone is talking about healthcare reform. That in itself is not a bad thing. It seems to me that the high cost of insurance and the large number of people who are unable to afford any insurance (and thus tend to be disqualified from any kind of early detection or wellness care) should make us concerned.

However, rushing to change doesn't seem like such a good idea either. 15 years or so ago the government decided that they would make it easier for people to get home mortgages by mandating that many people who used to be disqualified from loans should now be given flexible rate loans. The current financial crisis can be traced back to the decision to move away from good financial sense.

It seems that the idea of forcing Insurance companies to take "bad risk" clients is going to do a couple of things: first, it will drive many out of the health insurance business. 2) It will drive premiums up for everyone else. We are lining things up for another Savinds and Loan mess.

Medical facilities spend hundreds and hundreds of thousands (or more) each year to defend themselves against nuisance lawsuits. This is not addressed in any of the bills I've heard talked about.

Millions is spent in Medical expenses just paying for people who do nothing other than address government regulations and compliance issues. Most hospitals and Drs offices are buried in government paperwork. All that cost gets passed on to the rest of us. Congress is proposing more red tape. That translates into more paperwork = more costs.

This is an issue that demands great wisdom. Pray for our lawmakers to come up with changes that will help us rather than hurt us in the future.

Insight

I read a great quote the other day that has helped me a great deal. I can't remember where I read this but the quote was of this nature, "whatever we focus on will become larger and larger".

Think about this. If I focus on the wrong that someone has done to me (or I perceive they have done to me) that wrong will grow larger and larger. It will gradually take over my life and my thinking.

If I focus on the trials and struggles of my life those struggles will grow so large in my mind that they will crowd out the blessings.

If I focus on the faults and weaknesses of my mate I will no longer be able to see those great traits that drew me to him/her.

If I focus on the critical comments of men in regard to Scriptural authority the Bible will become less and less sufficient for my life.

Now turn this around. If I focus on Christ and his sufficiency His greatness will dominate my life and my problems will lessen in comparison. If I focus on the promises and veracity of God's Word, the threats of worldly philosophy will be seen in their weakness.

In our personal lives if we focus on (and celebrate) the strengths and gifts of our mate and our friends, we will cherish them more and be able to "cover over a multitude of sins". If we focus on our blessings and gifts we will find gratitude growing larger in our hearts rather than discontentment.

I hope this insight helps you as much as it did me. Choose where you focus your mind and it will change the way your experience your life.