Beyond Software Updates

Earlier this week, a surprising technical issue at the New York Stock Exchange halted trading for up to 40 notable stocks and caused Berkshire Hathaway's stock value to drop 99.97% -- from $627,400 on Friday to just $185.10 on Monday morning.

The parent company of the NYSE, Intercontinental Exchange, confirmed that the hiccup was likely triggered not by a cyberattack but by a new software release, of all things. The Consolidated Tape Association (CTA), which is responsible for publishing real-time trade and quote data, said it relied on a secondary data center that was operating under an older version of the software in order to correct the issue on Monday.

According to an NYSE spokesperson, the technical issue was caused by industry-wide price bands that triggered trading halts on up to 40 symbols listed on NYSE Group exchanges. The price bands are published by the CTA's Security Information Processor (SIP), which apparently was undergoing an update on Monday morning not long after the NYSE opened.

To remedy the error, the NYSE will cancel all problematic Berkshire Hathaway trades between 9:50 a.m. ET and 9:51 a.m. ET at or below $603,718.30. But what about the nosedive from $620,700 to $185.10 at 9:44 a.m. ET Monday with no explanation?

When we place our faith in earthly promises -- whether a job or home or worldly possessions -- we must hold our hands open, keeping in mind that a Berkshire Hathaway-nosedive is always one of the many possibilities on the horizon. It is when we place our faith in heavenly promises that we can hold tightly, leaning into the promises of a God who loves us more than we can imagine:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”     -- Psalm 91:1-2

Software updates operate invisibly and ubiquitously, guiding and improving the systems they influence -- but often infringing on our work at inopportune times. God also operates invisibly and ubiquitously, guiding and improving his creation; but God is motivated by an enduring love and promises of other-worldly peace and hope. Why, then, do we place our hope in worldly promises when a moment in Scripture or prayer or God's creation can carry us through the most trying of times?