Past, Present, and Future

Periodically for my blogs, I search to see what happened on a particular day in history so I can write about it.

120 Years Ago

On December 17, 1903 – 120 years ago, Orville Wright flew his aircraft for the first time.

Also in 1903:

• The first radio broadcast was made from the United States to England.
• Teddy Roosevelt was the President of the United States.
• The first toy Teddy Bear was introduced.
• The first labor union with members of different races was formed.
• Eliot Ness (crime fighter) and John Dillinger (criminal) were born.
• And the deaths of Tom Horn (gunfighter and outlaw), Judge Roy Bean (the “Hanging Judge”), Richard Gatling (inventor of the Gatling gun), Calamity Jane, and Frederick Law Olmsted (landscape architect of Central Park, the National Zoo, and Biltmore Estate) occurred.

120 years ago, Americans dreamed of the freedom flight provides. They dreamed of reaching out to others in far away places, and of fair treatment at their jobs. They dreamed of ridding the world of criminals and evil, and some made notable enough contributions to be remembered in 2023.

Most lived every day, doing the best they could with what they had and what life dealt.

240 Years Ago

When I looked 120 years before then – 1783 – was the year the American Revolution ended.

America’s ancestors in the thirteen colonies who won their freedom probably never imagined man could fly in a contraption, much less live in space and dream about colonizing the points of light they saw in the sky.

They dreamed of freedom, and a world they could make better for their children and grandchildren.

Years From Now

I wonder what people will remember about 2023, in the year 2143. Or 240 years from now in 2263.

In the reality of history, will we be remembered for cherishing and striving for freedom? For commitment to ridding the world of criminals and evil? For working to make the world better for our children and grandchildren?

Will we have done enough to make the world a place worth living in?

I doubt we can imagine what the world will be like in a century or two centuries from now.

But we have today. To do the best we can with what we have and what life doles out.

Even if we are never famous enough to be noted in a history book, we can dream and commit and strive to make the world a better place.

What action do you put behind your dream to make the world a better place?

Past, Present, and Future – What helps you make the world a better place? Share on X

Joni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.

May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.