Thursday, July 13, 2006
His Mysterious Ways
Former Houston mayor Bob Lanier is aided by firefighters after collapsing at Ken Lay's funeral yesterday. (Houston Chronicle photo)
Shortly after learning of Ken Lay's sudden death, I wrote the following words in an e-mail discussion about the then-breaking news:
I think this is a very interesting development when one considers how often, especially during his trial and after his conviction, that Ken Lay referenced his faith in God and a belief that God would make everything work out.
Indeed, I believe God did make things work out...at least to some degree. Ken Lay destroyed the financial lives of thousands of Enron employees, thousands of Enron investors, and thousands of state employees (especially teachers) who were unwitting Enron investors because some fund manager put their retirement money there. That ripple effect probably touches more people than we can count. Arguably, he caused more pain and left more victims in his wake then even the worst serial murderer. How many people committed suicide because of Ken Lay's scheming? We'll probably never know, but I'm sure the number would stagger us.
So, as Ken Lay sat enjoying his ill-gotten Aspen hideaway, plotting how to protect it from the federal courts, and continuing to proclaim his faith, God Almighty exacted divine justice. In one presumably painful instant, it was all over and gone.
I still stand by those words. Yesterday, while Houston's upper crust gathered to mourn the lost of one of their own, I think the hand of God may have descended again.
Former Houston mayor Bob Lanier, who testified as a defense character witness during Lay's trial, collapsed on his way into Lay's funeral yesterday. Lanier was taken by ambulance to a Houston hospital. Doctors there say a pacemaker saved his life.
Could it be the hand of God? I cannot say for sure, but I think it could be.
