Okay, look, if you've been hanging out with me for any degree of time here on the Internet,

you have figured out that I get super excited about storytelling.

I think it is such a foundational aspect of humanity and of faith.

I think it's such a big deal for how we relate to each other and understand each other.

I think it's full of truth storytelling conveys truth in both literal ways and in figurative

ways.

And I just delight in various story beats and patterns that happen in that kind of thing.

And so I know that through the book of Esther, which is one of the great literary achievements

of all time, one of the great stories of all time, there's going to be a lot of moments

where you're real excited.

I'm like, this is a great part.

You got to get excited about this part with me.

I also understand that when I do that every single chapter for six chapters, you might

eventually start to be like, well, you said that last time.

But here's the thing, my friend.

I was right last time because that was awesome and the thing before that was awesome too.

And the moment that we're getting to here between chapter five and chapter six is also awesome.

This is the moment in high stakes storytelling.

Somebody pointed out to me that I kept saying the phrase yesterday, by the way, high stakes

again and again.

And then I was patting myself on the back for not cracking any jokes throughout the whole

thing about impalement on a 75 foot high stake, but I was, but it was an accident.

...