“The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with will of God. Both may be . . . and one must be wrong. God cannot be for and against same thing at same time. In present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different than purpose of either party.. . .

The contest. {Lincoln wrote} proceeds.”

Lincoln stares out window on to rainy September White House lawn. The Dylan record ends, and Lincoln, a weariness now taking over his whole 6’5 frame, forgets to lift needle off vinyl; only sound a scratching of finished disc endlessly turning.

And to sound of that finished Dylan record scratching, Lincoln thinks to himself: What if God is not on our side?

While Lincoln sits alone, feeling faint and powerless: on a different plane of time, a bitter cold Manhattan wind hits John Bolton like a body blow as he waits for parking valet to bring his car. He’s late. He’s got things to do. The liberal press had put spin on his quote: “If UN building lost 10 stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference.” Of course they had taken it out of context. Trumped up volume. But Bolton was feeling good. Feeling strong. Just this morning, downing his Power shake, his personal trainer Amber Lynn had told him that he had body of a man ½ his age. And as for Amber Lynn’s tan and golden body---well, he knew there would be time for that. There would be time for everything John Bolton wanted time for. Everything. I am John Bolton he thought.

A man who can control time itself

Except for that damn car parking jockey. Where was he dammit? Where was his car? Where was his Beamer??? Oh there would be hell to pay for this. He was sure of it!

By this time, I was becoming a little discouraged and wondered if I would ever be able to tell my story. Then I had a brilliant idea. I mentioned that while in hospital I suffered a severe case of diarrhea. I could not imagine anybody trying to upstage someone with diarrhea. Boy, was I wrong.

“Diarrhea? Did you say diarrhea?" I slowly nodded my head in affirmative.

"When I was in hospital I had such a severe case of diarrhea that I stayed on toilet for 30 days without getting up. My doctor told me it was severest case of diarrhea he had ever read about."

By this time I despaired ever cashing in any of my "ailment capital." It seems such a shame for all that capital to go to waste. I thought I should give it at least one more try.

Refusing to quit just yet, when next lull in conversation came I was ready.

"When I came into hospital," I chirped enthusiastically, "the doctor thought I was having a heart attack ..."

"Heart attack? Did I hear you talk about having a heart attack? Three years ago, they rushed me to hospital because I was having a real heart attack. The ambulance driver didn't think he would get to hospital in time."

If I thought he was done with this story, I thought wrong.

"My heart attack was so bad I had 17 bypasses. And it was so serious that when heart surgeon opened up my chest my heart attacked him."

I gave up. It's a wise person who knows when he's been beat — and I've been beat.

"My doctor said," this person continued despite my obvious disinterest, "that my heart attack was worse heart attack he had ever heard of in all years of practicing medicine."

I suppose I'll have to bank my "ailment capital" and save it for a rainy day. Or at least, when I can find some unsuspecting person to tell my story to.

For me, worst thing in world is having something exciting to talk about and no audience eager to listen.

I must confess being a little discouraged when a thought hit me. I do have an audience.

The Bible declares, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV.)

No matter what is on my mind at any time of day, I have access to greatest ears in world. By pouring out my heart to God, He replaces it with peace. What a great deal.