Margin Call - the movie - and I'm on a tear, so you've been warned...

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, please help us through these tough economic times, and may we learn to lean on You, and each other more, instead of the quote almighty dollar. May we learn valuable - not just monetary either - lessons. And in all things may we have a greater faith in You, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Carlton and I went to see the movie "Margin Call" last night. Here's the synopsis, per Rotten Tomatoes, "Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is an entangling thriller involving the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When an entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster."

Carlton, a political scientist, has been obsessed with the causes of our financial demise, as many people have been. See "Margin Call," and "Inside Job," for a 'complete' understanding of what's happened. Not really, but they are a good start.

One of the first things that Carlton did was see where things may have gone wrong politically. He found that Reagan's de-regulating the banks, in the 1980's, may have been the beginning.
But Carlton doesn't really think this economic crisis is as simple as de-regulation, as I know many people would agree, myself included.
I appreciate the axiom of Occam's Razor, "The simplest answer is often correct." It has served me well, especially when dealing with explanations.
I've consistently believed, naively, I recognize, that people are basically good. Philosophers and people far more intelligent than  me have debated this view of humanity, but for me, God created all of us, and He only creates Good; however, it's our choices, that make us do bad, criminal, and immoral things. Think of the seven deadly sins, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Acedia, Wrath, Envy, Pride, and Vainglory (I copied and pasted them from Wikipedia). I think de-regulation opened the door wide to these hideous sins. (Acedia, just so you know, "is the neglect to take care of something that someone should do.")(I didn't know either, lol).

But I don't blame de-regulation completely, I mean, these sins have been around since the Fall of Adam and Eve. Humans naturally make poor decisions, it's an inherent flaw that only God can remedy, but adding money to this poor sense of judgment, creates a luxurious playground for the Seven. I am not opposed to people making money. I am opposed to people making money off the misfortune, or ignorance, of others.

I'm mentioning all of this because I want to encourage my readers, and I pray for my readers, to always do the right thing (I sound like Spike Lee, I know); I ask that they pray for me as well.

And yes, the right thing is hard to do, but again, we don't do life alone, we only have to ask Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in moments we struggle with what to do. He will always lead us to the correct decision.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

I was just talking about this...

Heavenly Father,
Please continue to bless all those who need Your help, and help me to be a blessing, not a burden, to those who know and love me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You. You are my love and my salvation, never depart from me. In Jesus' name. Amen

30Rock hilarity

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Cleaning house

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for my past, my present, and, most especially, my future. With all my heart, I do love thee, Jesus! Amen.
As I was writing the previous blog, I started thinking about some significant events in my life...I had a pretty rough young life; but then, who hasn't, really? I grew up in poverty; not like living in a car, or a homeless shelter, but a humble beginning.
The semester my father was especially sick, I was on probation at school. Grades were slipping, and, quite frankly, I didn't care. The following semester my father died, and I was suspended from college.
During this time, I needed to find full-time employment, and get myself together. I had to make some money and return to school. I always knew I would return to school and finish  my degree; quitting school was never an option for me. I didn't want to live in poverty all my life. And not that I wanted a whole lot of money, and a nice car, etc., but I couldn't stand the abject environment where I found myself.
I think bc I didn't think much of myself at the time, and had no ambition to find a 'decent' job, I decided to become a maid. Yes, there for a short time, I cleaned houses for a living.

Not the most glamourous of jobs, but I liked it, and since I knew I wasn't going to clean houses for the rest of my life, I didn't mind it much.
I remember when I first began cleaning. Arriving at work a little before 8am, and sitting with the other maids...I could never figure out what we were waiting for, lol, and the whole atmosphere in the shop was one of desperation. (I realized later, what I thought was 'waiting,' was the ladies enjoying their coffee, and letting the folks whose houses we'd clean, wake up a bit, and be off to their jobs before we arrived.) Reflecting on the women I worked with, I kind of admired them. This was a humbling job, and even with the gloomy vibe in the room, the women were incredibly dignified, and good at what they did. I remember making the bed at one particular house, and the maid that was with me (maids were sent out in two's - like in Noah's arc) told me, "We want the pretty side of the flat sheet facing the child." They thought about their client's lives. I enjoyed my conversations with them, driving between houses, or going back to the shop at the end of the day.
I also vividly remember one particular house we cleaned. It was huge! I'm talking upstairs/downstairs, with at least 20 rooms. It had a long, gorgeous, winding stairway. I can easily project myself to sitting on those stairs again, as I'm cleaning the banister; the owner, a pleasantly plump woman, with an easy smile, gave me a curious glance as we entered her home; I guess because I was younger than my counterparts. But this woman was kind enough to play the most beautiful music as we cleaned. I think it was the first time I heard classical music. The harmonious sounds helped me understand (even better) Shawshank Redemption's character, Red (Morgan Freeman), when he narrated, "We sat and drank with the sun on our shoulders and felt like free men."
The melodies made me feel like things were going to get better. And they did.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

A peek into a life

Heavenly Father,
Bless all young people everywhere, Lord. Keep their guardian angels close, keeping them safe, always. And thank you for everything, always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tonight I was talking to a co-worker-friend in the parking lot about her 20 yr-old son, A. A is a student at Harvard UT and will have the opportunity to intern with a company for a year in China. He has already been to China, and loved it, and relishes the idea of returning, possibly to live there. A's mom, my co-worker-friend, is concerned for him; she has nothing against China, she just doesn't like the idea of her son being so far from her, and the rest of the family. Then there was A's gf. A and gf had been sweethearts since they were 15. They dated for five years. A's mom was telling me that A's gf and A were highly compatible as a couple, and with each other's family; so much in fact, that A's gf is in pictures of family weddings, and other various important family outings.
Well when A returned this past summer from China, and was in Dallas for about a week, he broke up with his gf. Not only was the gf heartbroken, so is A's family.
Everyone loved the gf and cried about the break up, almost as much as A did. Everyone in A's family is saying that he probably did the right thing, and are supportive of his decision, but they are also telling him that she was 'one in a million,' and he probably won't meet another one like this gf.
Hearing the tale, I felt bad for both A and his gf. A had to make a tough decision! And like mom said, "You can't expect people who are in their twenties to stay together. It's unrealistic." Mom now fears that if A takes a job in China, this will for sure signal the end to whatever A and his former gf may have had, or will have.
For some reason this 'struggle' interested me; probably because it reminds me of my life and the twists and turns it's taken and how I've arrived where I am...Life is a little of us trying to make the best choices with the information we have at the time; and a lot of us doing the best we can with the life we've been dealt.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa