Those aware that antitrust law is practiced, for the most part, in D.C. and New York may be surprised to learn that I found a very fine job practicing exclusively antitrust law in Detroit. The work was intellectually stimulating and drew heavily on my experience to date; and the job paid enough to allow Christine to stay home and focus on the girls, while working only very part-time hours as a legal consultant. Overall, life was very good for our family, and no doubt better than it had been in Washington, D.C. Christine and I reconnected with each other and with our daughters.
While our family life had improved significantly, there was a serious problem. To be blunt, my job was killing me; slowly but surely killing me. Yes, it was a good job, a very good job in the ways mentioned above. But it involved a lot of litigation, and litigation (it should surprise no one) requires that attorneys thrive -- not just survive -- in direct conflict and confrontation with other human beings. Time and again. Day in and day out. There is conflict with judges, hostile witnesses, opposing counsel, and even scheming lawyers who are nominally on the same side as you. While I believe I would have survived professionally and economically in this arena, I never would have thrived. Direct confrontation is simply inimical to my personality. I can engage in it when necessary, but each encounter leaves emotional scars. There was and is no doubt in my mind that remaining in that professional situation would have taken at least 15 years off my life.
During this time, Christine and I spoke often about what we might do to earn a living outside the legal profession. She often said, always with my agreement, "We're two smart people. We can figure this out. We can do anything." We were so wrong.
We couldn't figure it out. We thought and talked for a year-and-a-half about whether and how we could change our lives and get me into a healthier professional setting.
We couldn't do anything. Past financial decisions -- most notably choosing to borrow our way through law school -- had locked us into the legal field and its high salaries. There was no logical way out.*
To this point, I had not prayed a single prayer about this situation. Nonetheless, God got my attention.
* Cf. Haggai 1:6 ("Ye have sown much, and bring in little; Ye eat, but ye have not enough; Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; Ye clothe you, but there is none warm; And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put into a bag with holes.")
