This morning while driving over to the church for the weekly staff meeting, I was stunned to hear over the radio that Ken Lay died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Enron’s financial failure and the scandals, indictments and trials that evolved from it have dominated our lives for several years. It wasn’t hard to believe that the stress of the corporate and personal bankruptcies and his criminal conviction were major factors in the death of a man who had a history of cardiac problems.
Shortly after that as I was driving home, I heard a local talk show host take calls from people who wanted to talk about his death. I understand that many, many people in the Houston area were financially devastated by the collapse of Enron; that they rejoiced when he was indicted and convicted; and eagerly anticipated his sentencing in a couple of months. Those who lost so much really wanted to see him go to prison. Emotions have been running very high.
But the people who called in made my hair stand on end. Here are some sample rants:
I heard all that in less than five minutes, then I shut the radio off. The conspiracy theorists were on a roll, frustrated that death cheated them of longed-for revenge. It sounded like a big rock had been kicked aside, revealing all manner of venomous reptiles hissing, snarling and threatening to strike.
- Ken Lay took arsenic and committed suicide to avoid prison
- The President and Vice President conspired to have him killed so Enron wouldn’t continue to be in the news
- Justice has been cheated by his death, so the government must prosecute his family
- Ken Lay faked his death and has made an escape to avoid prison (a latter-day Elvis???
The man died. Under the circumstances, it was almost predictable. He was tried and found guilty, but did not live long enough to be sentenced. God's judgment is now upon Ken Lay. And that judgment is surely tempered by God's grace and mercy, as we pray it will be upon each of us because we have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And that's why we prayed for Ken Lay and his family in our staff meeting and again this evening at our midweek worship service.
Forgive us our debts, Lord, as we forgive our debtors.
9 comments:
Amen, Amen.
Amen.
I am sorry for his family and for all of those he harmed. I wish the harmed could have their funds restored.
Such an unpleasant ending for everyone involved on any side.
We tend to forget that we have ALL sinned and that there are no little or big sins just sins.
We all need grace and mercy.
There were -- and are -- many sides to Ken Lay. In one obituary, I read "Lay became known in Houston and beyond as someone willing to share the wealth. Universities, churches, museums and philanthropic associations all benefited from his, and Enron’s, success."
What a shame that in the midst of the rants, someone who benefited from his sharing couldn't stand up and, in thankfulness, say, "there's more to Ken Lay…" It's not an excuse, just a more complete picture of a complex and tragic life.
Well said QG. It speaks volumes about the nature of our society that people can be upset that they didn't get the chance to watch the man suffer anymore for his crimes. It would be interesting to me to hear how many of them would also quickly claim to be Christian in a radio poll.
Mr. Lay seems to be the sad example of how the big money games that corporations play, with execs as the leaders, can ruin otherwise good men and women.
Based on what I know, it seems that the Christian Ken Lay was more and more compromised by that game of trying to keep the status and money at any cost. Rather than flying to Christ as his 'hiding place' and speaking honestly about his failures, he tried to keep the empire going under his own power and this foolish quest ruined him and countless others in the end. It is a tragedy from which we all can learn.
Are the Christians in the big salary executive offices paying attention?
When I heard the news, I was one of those who immediately thought "good riddance".
How inhuman is that? Ken Lay was just a symbol of something I didn't like, something I wanted to see punished. Its a short journey from that attitude into real darkness.
I was wrong.
Thank you helping us to remember what matters most.
Ditto that.
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