Tuesday, May 8, 2007

looking "wabac"


I've always been fascinated with the idea of time travel. My interest might have started as a kid watching Sherman and Mr. Peabody with their WABAC ('wayback') machine. I liked how they would travel back in time and "fix" various things so that events would end up happening as expected in the history books. Over the years I've enjoyed novels such as Time and Again and The Time Traveler's Wife, and movies such as the Back to the Future trilogy and Frequency.

Part of what keeps me interested in the time topic is that there is some science to think about as well. My buddy Albert Einstein showed how space is curved, time is relative, and time travel is -- in theory -- possible.

If I could travel back in time, I think my first stop would be to visit relatives/ancestors who homesteaded in the Dakotas. And, it would be nice if I could do something "useful" with time travel such as sound the alarm about carbon emissions earlier. (But would anybody listen?)

However, while it's fun to think about visiting the past, I believe it's important to live in the present and point towards the future. Since "Views from the Road" is a theo-type blog I will mention that this has been my issue with some churches (who shall remain nameless). They pretend they have a WABAC machine and it's set to 1953. It might be comfortable, but it's just not relevant.

It's time to adjust the dials, people!

3 comments:

marie said...

A 'wabac' machine----oh, the people I would see; the places I would go!!!! (but I'd still want to 'combac' home.) :)

Diane M. Roth said...

1953. My temptations run more to the 1930s and 40s. All the good movies were during that time!

I get you though. It seems like a lot of churches want to turn back the dial to some ideal time (doesn't exist, even in the 1st century it wasn't ideal.) Just churches full of forgiven sinners.

Barbara B. said...

Ah, yes -- the 40's was a GREAT movie era!!!