Where Have You Been?

It has been a little more 2 weeks since I last posted a blog. My wife got an email from her brother today requesting that she inform me it was time to update. I have drafted a blog or two in the last 2 weeks but did not publish them. Since the last post regarding the fact that John and Sally get the privilege of hosting my kids next, Jodi and I have spent nearly every evening watching the acclaimed TV Miniseries from 1978 "Centennial". That is nearly 20 hours of viewing time (minus the fast-forwarding through the opening credits.)

I remember "Centennial" being on TV when I was a child. I can't say that I saw every episode all the way through but have seen it at least once as an adult. They could never show it on TV today and hope to get a consistent audience for the 12 episodes. Our pace of life today is in stark contrast to the year 1795. I always had a slight fascination with history when I was younger but never embraced it. Perhaps my educators lacked the ability to "bring it to life" for me. Maybe I couldn't understand how the past has always influenced the present. It could be that I thought it was a subject you could never master because history is always being created and the text book would continue to grow.

Today I am different. If I had schooling to do again, I would highly consider history. "Centennial" traces the development of a fictional Colorado city from the year 1795 to the present day (1978). The main theme I believe is that the land and the water have always supplied and benefitted mankind. The series depicts the characters who may have lived in the west in the late 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and weaves their lives and times together. The earliest were the fur traders and then those longing for the adventure and promise of their own land out west. We are introduced to their struggles, their rewards, their strengths, even their faults. It is difficult for me to grasp a nearly 200-year time period when I haven't even experienced one-fifth of that amount of time.

In Centennial (the town) we see how those who cherished the land and its natural resources respected and honored the land and passed the legacy from generation to generation. We see their convictions and the battles they faced from those who didn't share their vision. There are many lines in the movie that are full of meaning. Many observations can be made and applied. I recall one sentiment that the founder of the town, Levi Zendt stated. Just before his death, he stated that one can't choose the time in which he lives. To paraphrase the rest, he just has to choose to make his time the best it can be.

We all have our own history. People we have never met, perhaps never even heard of, influence us today. Some of the history is a shared history. America's founding is such a shared history. George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and others like them didn't choose to live in 18th century America. They chose their path through that time. We must choose our path through our own time. We think it was easier living in the past. If you study our history, you'll discover that is not the case.

My history includes people from my line, my ancestors. My grandmother gave me a family tree starting with my mom and I have the names of 10 generations in four branches. Though not directly, everyone of them has had influence on me. One day I look forward to climbing in that tree and seeing what I can see.

This is longer than I planned and I have many thoughts stirred from the series "Centennial". I hope to share them in the future. I hope you like history.

I am thankful for my ancestors who taught their children to love and honor God with their lives who then taught their children who taught their children...