debt ceiling deadline

Treasury Secretary Lew urges lawmakers to act before deadline nears.
The "debt-limit" resolution purports to be something that it clearly is not -- a tool for shaping and redefining the nation's fiscal policy -- and, in reality, plays a totally nonsensical role.
Maybe, when things get so complicated, we return to the simple coming together, to get the job done. It got me thinking about the amazing women I've met over the years.
What is the relevance of section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the current crisis? What it seems to say is that the government must honor all public debt "authorized by law." This suggests that non-payment of our existing debt is not a constitutionally-permissible option for the president.