MY TEN EVENTS IN HISTORY

KEY VERSE:

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

ESSAY:

            My friend Dave Logan died this week. He may be better known as the courageous conservative blogger, Third wave Dave. That’s how I came to know him, as we never met in person. Dave faithfully served his country for several honorable years in the United States military. In his honor I am completing a writing challenge he thrust upon me a while back. We will miss you Dave.

I have been summoned to play a game of tag and name the ten events in history I wish I could have witnessed in person. This seems like an overwhelming task, one where you risk seeming silly and superficial if you don't pick "significant" events. In any case, reluctantly, here I go.

1. Either inauguration of President George W. Bush as the 43rd President. The second time may have been sweeter.

2. In the audience when President Ronald Reagan said the immortal line that changed the world, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

3. An early crusade of the Reverend Billy Graham when it was clear the Holy Spirit had anointed him, and God was blessing his ministry.

4. When Christ uttered, "It is finished." Then the Temple curtain ripped in two. Matthew 27:51 says, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.”

5. Backstage at the 1992 Grammys when my favorite artist of all time, Amy Grant, was nominated for four major awards and she performed live on the telecast.

6. Any day in the 1950s or early 1960s when I could have met both of my grandfathers. They both died before I was born in 1967.

7. On the set of ET: The Extra Terrestrial during the bike flying sequences and the goodbye scene, so I could see cinema magic being made.

8.The January days of 1998 with Matt Drudge when he had the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal news and blew the story wide open on drudgereport.com, permanently damaging the Bill Clinton presidency.

9. Sitting near Rosa Parks when she decided she was not willing to give up her seat on that bus.

10. Any day on the set with Regis Philbin during the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee heydays.

APPLICATION:

            If you had a Back to the Future-like time travel machine, what historic events would you want to experience firsthand? I seem to be particularly interested in visiting some modern presidential moments. I lived through the presidencies of Ronald Regan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush but I did not get to see items one, two or eight up close and personal.  Ultimately, we are fooling ourselves if we do not see the events revolving around Jesus’ death and resurrection as the single most significant events in world history. Without Christ’s death and return to life, there would be no history to celebrate. He is the supreme reason to commemorate and celebrate the events of our world and our individual lives. Write out your top ten historical events you’d like to visit or revisit and contemplate how the resurrection of Jesus fits into your life and your history.

This essay is from my book More Autism and Awesometism: Devotionals From and About a Special Needs Family.