"Thank you, Jesus!" - Staying Calm Under Stress - Ray Nagin - and Merida in "Brave!"

I wanted to write today about Scottish folklore origins and histories about will–o’-the-wisps.

I’m loving the Disney movie, Brave.  I love how fireball redhead, Merida, follows will–o’-the-wisps.

I learned that this movie has some roots in Scottish folklore.  Given universal conditions of parents raising and loving their own head-strong daughters, like mine, it's no surprise the Scots have their local version, and, it’s a bit predictable that Merida will go chasing will–o’-the-wisps on her journeys to individual freedom – because will–o’-the-wisps lead you to your destiny!

In Merida’s case, will–o’-the-wisps led her into a cave with a demon-possessed bear. Oh, my!

Alas. I cannot write about Merida following her will–o’-the-wisps.  Not today.

Today is Ray Nagin’s lucky day.

Ray Nagin followed his will–o’-the-wisps of personal freedom into his personal demon-possessed caves and then into a bearish courtroom – convicted for 20 counts of bribery and fraud.

Saying, "Thank you, Jesus!," in his testimony along the way.

"Thank you, Jesus!"  Saying it calmly.  Cooly. Collectedidly. Calm as calm can be. "Nagin relaxed and confident under questioning by his attorney."

Calmly thanking Jesus – calmly enough to make me wonder if Nagin read his good-ole Bible in one hand, while Nagin read Forbes business magazine, “How Successful People Stay Calm,” (calm businessman that Nagin was) in his other?

Jesus, Forbes, and calm?  How can a guy go wrong?

It’s possible too – auditing the world of really weird results – that Nagin wanted to get caught.  That Nagin thanked Jesus and Carl Sagan too, because Nagin wanted out of his Demon Haunted World. Perhaps wanting to get caught like Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment. We will see if Nagin appeals.  And to whom.

See next, "Thank you, Jesus!" ~ Ray Nagin (part 2) ~ the Storm (Katrina) before the Calm (of Testimony) ~ asking "What if?"