"Ladies and gentlemen, in times like these I’m reminded of a quote by investor Warren Buffet. He once said: ‘It is only when the tide goes out that you know who was swimming naked.’ The global economic crisis has revealed quite a few skinny dippers but Canada is not one of them." — Prime Minister Harper, March 10 in Brampton, ON.

Alberta has not escaped. What has the recession of the economic tide revealed about believers’ spiritual infrastructure in our province?

The drop in the US dollar has affected Don and Liz, a couple in their early sixties. They purchased a timeshare in Mexico last year. "Our $300 USD payment has now become $400. It’s a losing battle, so we’re walking away from it." Their new condo in Millrise has dropped in value and their investments have suffered a 40% loss. Credit card debt is no longer tolerable for them. "We’re now dealing in cash, ignoring the air miles benefit and getting a low interest credit card to pay off the balance. We have a six-month window at a very low interest rate to pay it off and we’re focused on doing just that. We’re much more careful, but definitely not in panic mode. Tithing is non negotiable. That protects the remaining 90% of our income."

For Bill, an Edmonton sales executive with a large international firm, the recession hit home recently. "I had for many months felt unhappy and unsatisfied in the industry I had been in for nine years – I was laid off work at the end of November. I went to my ‘termination interview’ with a little trepidation, but I remarkably left it feeling that in fact a weight had been lifted from me. I had no real idea what I would do next, but I knew God did. That very day, I was invited to apply for the position of manager for the very hospital unit I had first worked on as a psychiatric nurse some 30 years ago, and in early January, I restarted my real career!

Many large multi-million dollar city and provincial construction projects have been dropped forcing international companies to layoff dozens of workers. Ron, 33, a heavy- duty mechanic apprentice living in Airdrie, was laid off mid-December and will return to work sometime in March. With his wife on maternity leave and a large mortgage, they thought they’d lose their house. "I just had to decide not to worry because it was causing stomach problems. Even if we end up with nothing, we’ll still have our car and our trailer." They survived the crisis when their house insurance company offered a cash payout on an outstanding claim.

Beth, graduating next month from Alberta Bible College’s PACE counseling has not felt it. "It isn’t really affecting me at all, directly. I am really blessed. As a salesperson for a large office supply company, February sales were up. The PR work I did in November through January building personal relationships paid off in February."

Last Sunday, in one of Calgary’s largest churches, the weekly financial report revealed giving is above budget so far this year. That may be the strongest indicator that although the financial tide is out there may not be a lot Christians skinny dipping here in Alberta.