Today I learned about Martin Luther and I enjoyed the special I watched on him.  'You never get pint's, it's always quarts with Luther'.  He stood up to the church during a time when it normally cost a person his life to do so. Luther's life is filled with dramatic characters.  Starting off with his hard driven and demanding father was an entreprener that bet everything, his family's entire existence, on a business idea and made it work.  Luther grew up with John Henry (although he hadn't been born yet) standing over him.  In other words, his Father's expectations were high and Luther was compelled by an unforgiving conscience to do whatever it takes to succeed.  Luther's conscience was the driving force in his life. Luther grew up in Germany in the 1500's.  He went to school in a small town where the church was the major industry.  Luther was happy going through school until the plague hit and took many of his friends.  While returning home a thunderstorm inspired an epiphany in Luther and when he returned to his home he had determined to give his life up as a servant of God.  He joined a very strict sect of monks where talk was limited and life's luxuries were shunned.  He nearly killed himself while seeking his salvation.  After several years he was sent on a trip to Rome.  A pilgrimage that required 2 months of travel to endure.  Endure he did but when he arrived he found out that the center of his spiritual life, the pinnacle of the Church, was filled with treachery and cynicism.  It got worse when the existing pope died and was replaced by a glutton who drove the church into financial difficulties.  To compensate for his extravagant tastes he involves the church in the business of selling absolution of sins.  Now, a devout Catholic didn't have to go to church or confession and he didn't have to be nice or fair...  if he had the money to buy absolution he could be as much of a 'stinker' as he wanted to be and get into heaven.  Luther spoke out against this process by nailing his objections to the church door...  This happened right about the time that the printing press came into being and someone grabbed his notes from the door and published his scathing rebuttal of the 'absolution business'. 

So anyway...  I really identified with Luther and his story...  When the people spoke about him their eyes lit up...  His writing style was witty and direct and scandalis and the people loved him for telling the truth in a way they could identify with.