Wizzo told you last week that he would give you his reasons this week why a life-size sculpture of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea by Jane DeDecker should be positioned at the beginning of the approach to the tower, just as you begin your journey toward the underground Kuhl Art Gallery.

Well, he and Pennie took off this weekend to go to the theater in Fort Worth to see Melissa Gilbert onstage in Little House on the Prairie. You know how Wizzo is about theater.

All I can tell you is this: Every icon on the academy campus has 3 interpretations: a Business interpretation, an Artistic interpretation – usually from a famous work of literature, and a Spiritual interpretation.

BUSINESS: I heard Wizzo telling Princess Pennie how the sculpture tells a story of relentless determination and commitment, essential ingredients of success for the entrepreneur. This sculpture initiates the tale that is completed by the Laughlin stone and the Sword of Arthur embedded in the top of the tower wall.

LITERATURE: The Old Man is approaching the lions. Hemingway’s story ends with “The old man was dreaming of the lions.” Click the image at the bottom of this page to read deeper into that mystery.

SPIRITUAL: Daniel entered an underground lion’s pit because of his beliefs and it worked out for him. As a result of his mastery over the lions, the king of Babylon made Daniel the head Magoi, (Persian word, translated magi – wise man – wizard.) Nearly 500 years later “wise men from the East” – almost certainly from the fraternity of Daniel – arrived in Jerusalem with questions for King Herod. Their story is told in Matthew chapter 2 and on the bronze plaques at Explanation Point, on the cliff’s-edge trail just past the Chapel. Second spiritual application: A man carrying the ICHTHYS (fish – sometimes spelled ICHTHUS, long story) is approaching some lions – Roman? – but it all works out okay.