Things are bad and getting worse, but the situation may be driving people back to the only resources that can save us in the end: our faith, and one another.

When Sen. Edmund Muskie ran for president, he repeatedly said, “The issue in this campaign is community.” I think that is truer now than ever. With material success, people tend to get complacent, cocky, selfish, and forget how fragile, contingent and finite our lives really are; how sorrows and death eventually afflict everyone; how desperately we need, rely on and care for one another; and how important transcendent faith is for our hope and very survival.

But maybe the coming tough times will restore humility to us all, and the lost sense of community Sen. Muskie lamented so long ago.

Maybe people will start being a little kinder, gentler and more courteous to each other – more understanding and appreciative of our shared, common humanity.

Maybe people will reach out to family and friends, and to the world, in a special way this holiday season, and gratefully acknowledge the transcendent power on whom we ultimately rely for life itself.

And maybe in the renewal of these sacred fellowships, people will recover the joy and happiness we lost in the mindless pursuit of wealth, power and success. Then, people can overcome anything again, and adversity will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Surely, that is the prayer and hope of us all.

Paul Corrao, Lewiston