Guest column by Lander Bethel, a pastor

When I was a kid and just attempting to swim I took great comfort in knowing where the bottom of the pool was. As long as I could touch bottom I felt safe enough to be in the water, and that gave me enough assurance to try those first strokes that made it possible to swim. Swimming lessons, learning to breathe, to relax and float made it possible to feel confident about being in the water regardless of how near or far the bottom might be.

Sometimes we feel on the verge of panic, as it seems the economic waters are being drained out from under us. The swirl of water that is unfortunately pulling some people under may frighten many people as the markets search for a bottom. Collectively we are looking for the assurance that we can touch something beneath us. In our panic we seem to forget how to float and breathe, helping us relax until we have the strength to resume swimming.

When someone is caught in a swirl one of the best things that can be done is to throw some kind of safety line to them—a life jacket ro help them stay afloat. If someone were actually in the water being pulled under, throwing a lifeline to the imperiled person is what any of us would do. In our financial turmoil there are many people who shout out that it's unfair to help someone who made a bad decision. It doesn't reward those of us who made more prudent and responsible decisions.

A friend reminded me the other day of a story from Matthew 20:1-16, where Jesus tells a parable about day-laborers who are hired at the beginning of the day, later in the morning, at noon, mid-afternoon, and at the end of the day. When the workers lined up to get paid the people who had worked the least got a full day's wage. When the others, who had worked longer, got the same full day's wage - even though they worked longer (no one more than one full day), they started to protest. It wasn't fair. Why should they have worked a full day if someone who didn't work that long would be paid the same? It was unfair!

They were right, of course. It wasn't fair. But forgiveness and mercy are inherently unfair. There will be those who don't act responsibly. When they are forgiven it may not seem right, but it is the graceful thing to do. We don't punish someone for nearly drowning. We do everything we can to save that person's life. Forgiveness, offering grace - maybe even money—extending mercy to those who are in trouble just may be the thing that helps all of us become calmer and more assured so that we can stay afloat in these turbulent times. Maybe the theological issue of forgiveness and grace is what we need most to see us through so that we can live in confidence and hope.

Lander Bethel is pastor of Grand Avenue Presbyterian, Sherman, Texas.

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