The Big Bang revisited.

Welcome one and all. Today is Wednesday, July 11, 2012, and I send out a big howdy to everyone tuning in for today's episode. My wife is a huge fireworks fan. She prefers to see them in person but will settle for watching them on TV if she has to. They now have a show about those who design and execute those huge fireworks displays. It's on the Weather Channel and it's called Pyros and it is pretty interesting. There's a lot more to it than folks might imagine. The wiring and the layouts are very involved. They all connect into a computer system and that's how they become synchronized with the music. These people have to deal with things like unexpected weather problems, issues involving parts of the system not working properly, and a host of other things that come up as they prepare to entertain. They are paid handsomely to do all of this. It requires skill and ability. It is very high tech. Knowing all of this makes it interesting to read about what happened last week out in San Diego at their planned 4th of July fireworks display. Instead of the 20 minute program they paid for, due to a glitch in the system, it lasted exactly 20 seconds. Talk about the Big Bang! In this case I think they are calling it the Big Bust. And, for them, it wasn't a theory, it became an embarrassing reality. The fellow representing the fire works company said they felt terrible about what happened or didn't happen, but those thousands who showed up were in no mood to be forgiving. It just goes to show you. Sometimes failure is not only an option but it demonstrates just how embedded it is in the fabric of life.

Things do not always go the way we think they will. I read about a lady who retired and looked forward to continuing her collecting pursuit. Sadly, one day while she was away, her house caught fire and burned, taking with it the 1500 Barbies she had spent a lifetime collecting. We just never know. You probably heard about the plane that took off but was disrupted by an elderly passenger who was blind and only spoke French. He became disoriented and began swinging at everyone around him. They rerouted the plane to a different city and the people on board ended up losing a full 24 hours before they finally made it to their destination. No one could have expected to be in that situation. We just never know. I've been re-routed a few times on airplane trips but never with that much excitement. They are very sensitive to what is said at airports these days. One flight last week was delayed due to a casual comment made to a flight attendant. He simply asked if the crew had been out late partying the previous night. That was enough to shut down the plane and have all the flight crew tested for drugs. After they completed that process they continued the flight but they kicked the fellow off who had asked the question. You just never know. These are some strange times we are living in folks, strange indeed. I know the Elvis image doesn't match the commentary but I like it, so I stuck it there.

It reminds me of how I used to make excuses when I messed something up. I would tell my grandfather that it was not what I intended. He would then ask if that was true, then what did I intend. We all start our days with expectations but they rarely go exactly like we think they will. That's why we need to have the Unseen Hand helping us with each and every step we take. I am one to talk. I can get caught up in the heat of the battle or the challenge of the moment about as quickly as anyone. But, when it is all said and done, it is our faith that facilitates our confidence as we do deal with the ups and downs that dog our steps. We are not alone. That's right. Those thousands of other drivers did not get on a conference call and agree to figure out a way to impede your progress and mess up your schedule. That lady at the counter did not see you come through the door and decide at that time to get some small detail wrong on your order. I read a few weeks ago about a fellow who became so enraged with a messed up food order that he drove back around the place and hit the accelerator, lost control, rammed the side of the restaurant, and ended up nearly destroying his expensive truck. He sure showed them, didn't he? We might laugh about that but basically we can do the same thing in our minds as we encounter life's unexpected mishaps, if we are not careful. One thing I've noticed, there are plenty of opportunities for each of us, every single day, to see our own little 20 minute fireworks display go up in a second, and the results are always hurtful to all involved, and especially to ourselves. Okay. I think I've used up my daily quota of keystrokes. May God be with you until we meet again. Amen.   ...More later.