A Leap From The Lion's Head

My favorite movie of the original Indiana Jones trilogy has to be The Last Crusade. In this final (or so we thought at the time) installment, Doctor Jones, has to obtain the Holy Grail, the cup of Christ, not only for his glory, but to save his father. One of his final tests, before he reaches the room where the Grail is kept, is a chasm separating him from the continuation of his journey. His clue to success is in "a leap from the lion's" head, which is where he happens to find himself standing.



I took such a leap myself last month when I resigned my job without the safety net of a new one. It was time for me to leave, that I knew. The only question was when. Conventional wisdom would have said, "when you find a job, fool". However, once I prayed and then asked God for his wisdom and guidance, His answer was an odd (to me) one. He suggested I resign on my birthday, as a gift to myself. I was suddenly gripped with fear. How was I going to tell my wife. Or better yet, what kind of riot act would she read me, for something that sounded so fool-hearty. God's response? Tell, her what you told me, and then tell her what I told you. Oooookay.

When I got home, I did just that. Then I told her to pray about it, and let me know what she heard from God. To my surprise, although she was concerned, she wasn't frantic. She prayed about it, and then the next day told me that whatever God had planned for us, that was what was going to happen, and if that was what I was hearing from God she would stand with me in faith. That was not what I expected.

A week later I grew more panicked as I had no job prospects that were magically appearing, as that is how I believe God would come through. Lesson: don't try to put God in a box. I then was listening to an audio sermon where God was described not as a boss, who rewards or punishes us based on how good we behave or perform, but more like a doctor who recognizes when we are sick and offers us prescriptions to heals us.

After listening to that sermon I realized that God was giving me a prescription because I was ailing in my current position. It was in my best interests, health-wise, to leave rather than stay, in spite of my fears. Still, I wasn't quite sure if God was really talking to me. Later that afternoon while taking in my daily dose of NPR's News and Notes, I picked up on a line one of the
panelists uttered during their discussion of whether Hillary Clinton should have conceded (at the time) that Barack Obama was the presumptive presidential nonimee or not. The panelist likened Hillary to a child standing in front of a blackboard with lines of chalk reading, "I need to quit. I need to quit. I need to quit." It couldn't have gotten any clearer than that for me.

So, on my birthday, I handed in my resignation. Immediately, a feeling of relief washed over me. I was free. Once my two weeks were up, I realized it was for real. With no job in sight, I was really counting on the Lord now. My time would be filled with my master's program and helping out my wife with her side business a bit more.

Then my boss suggested I help out on a part-time basis, until I got something more permanent, as they would appreciate my help. I accepted. I would work a third of the time that I used to.

Then my wife's contract ended earlier than we expected. Oh dear, we though. This was a curve ball to say the least. Our faith would now be put to the test. I could always go back, a voice came into my head. But, I beat it back. That would defeat the whole purpose of my faith in action. I would wait on the Lord.

As June rolled by, I found that we had all the income we needed, and then some. Then, last week. I was listening to messages and found a lost message from a recruiter. I called back and three interviews later, I accepted an office for the ideal job, with a pay nice increase as well.

While I'm happy about the job, I'm happier that the Lord showed His power once again, and that he healed that which ailed me through his prescription. I gave Him praise for reminding me that "faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).

The Celtics Put The Green Back In The Garden

Oh yes, sweet seventeen! What can I say? It's nice, really nice. The last time the Celts got to raise a banner, I was in high school. And yes, the favorite rivalry was against the Lakers. Except it was Magic (Johnson) leading the way and not Kobe (Bryant). I couldn't bear to watch most of the 2008 Finals because the emotional rollercoaster was all too familiar to me.

Finally, I did succumb and watched most of Game 5, until my wife shut me off for "excessive oratory volume." Plus, I actually dove across the rug, mistaken in the belief that I was the Celtics sixth man (number 36?). They lost, I grumbled. However, fate would have it no other way than for the final game to be in Boston, in the Garden.

Oooooh it was electric, even watching from home the energy was contagious. Even my wife got into it.

In the end the Lakers had no chance. The Boston fans were the sixth man (number 17?) and it was just like the days of Bird, Parish, McHale, D.J., and Ainge, three-pointer city.

While I'm happy for Garnett and Allen, I'm most happy for Pierce and for those of us who remained in Boston waiting at least twice as long as he did. Thanks guys, for putting the green back in the Garden.

Taxes, Entitlements, Fuel Prices, and Trouble

Well, regardless of who gets into the White House, taxes will go up. It's just a matter of when, how much, and who's most adept at avoiding them.

Increase taxes too fast and too high and you'll force a mass exodus, and I'd be right there with you. Perhaps some English, Portuguese, or Spanish-speaking country. Because I know only one word in Chinese.

Also, entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security (if they remain as they are) will bankrupt America long before taxes do, unless the war in Iraq bankrupts America first (see A Little Perspective on $87 billion).

No president or presidential-candidate since Reagan (the start of my political memory), in my opinion, has had or does have the political will to do what's needed*. Scrap the current system and enact a new system that doesn't rely on the current generation funding entitlements for the next generation. Instead build an internationally invested, mandated version of a 401K system. I don't blame the politicians either, because it ain't pretty (*Check out "The Coming Generational Storm" by Kotlikoff and Burns).

McCain? Poor guy. He could easily win this election if he were twenty years younger. Now he has to count on either Ronmey or Huckabee as Vice President. If McCain can only pretend not to seem so eager to build a base in Iraq and rock-and-roll (slang for a rifle on full automatic) in Iran, he'd have a pretty good shot. Perhaps, he could even make me an argument for his presidency. Unfortunately, he's not that disciplined (Huckabee is). His only hope? Scare the heck outta the country like Dubya and Karl Rove did in 2004. If he does that successfully...he's in.

However, whomever votes for him better pray their children never have to answer the following question, because it may be on the Iran test (It was on my Boot Camp test ). "What's the muzzle velocity of an M16A1[A2] rifle?"

Because once their teenagers are in Iran (or Iraq), taxes or the price of fuel won't be what keeps them up at night.

At least Obama will be around to vilify if it all goes to hell. Or, as my Army buddies would put it, you can't kick a dead guy's ass.

Farewell Tim

First Ed Bradley, now Tim Russert. The news world will never be the same. When I first got news that Russert, host of MSNBC's Meet The Press has passed away, I thought some hackers had got into AOL and were playing a mean gag. Come to find out a few hours later that Russert had succumb to a heart attack on the job. He was one of the few newsmen I can think of today that was civil to whomever he happened to be interviewing, regardless of party. Uninterested in the "gotcha!" interviewing that has become so pervasive in today journalism, but really seeking to pull out the answers we the viewing public needed to hear, he approached his subjects with respect.

What I liked about what I saw in Russert was the enthusiasm he brought to his work and his style of work. Like a little kid at a birthday part, he was just as giddy when it came to any of the Election 2008 Presidential Primary debates. In particular, I enjoyed his myriad of hand and head gestures, for emphasis and (perhaps unknowningly) to be the exception of the stereotypical talking head.

Even through the television screen, his joy was contagious, and that's what I'll miss the most. Farewell Tim. Say hi to Ed for me.

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Hello There. Welcome to Epotlounge. This is a place where you should feel like you can relax and comment on topics you wouldn't ordinarily have the time or be bothered to chat about at work, or just things you need to get off your chest. I hope it can serve you at least in that manner. Picture images are courtesy of myself or flickr.com.