At one time or another, we have all wondered what it would be like to meet famous people from history. However, why not take this thought one step further?
Suppose a person could host a dinner party and choose four people from history as the only guests. Who would they choose?
I had some spare time this week, and my mind drifted to this topic. My choices surprised me a little bit, so here is who I would invite and why.
My first invitation would be to Jesus Christ. Whether or not a person is a Christian, there can be no disputing His impact on history. His teachings have shaped the personal conduct of billions of people for the last 2,000 years and will hopefully continue to do so.
Even atheists have been touched by Him though I am sure many of them would not admit it. Especially as the Easter season approaches, it would be wonderful to spend an evening with Him and just have a conversation.
My next invitation would be to President Abraham Lincoln. When reviewing our nation's history, it would be difficult to find a more important person. Lincoln steered the country through its worst moments.
Given the freedom we currently enjoy, it is difficult to fully appreciate the challenges Lincoln faced during his presidency. Obviously, our country is going through a lot of strife right now, but it is not in the same universe when compared to the Civil War.
Lincoln literally gave his life so that our country could be preserved. He had to watch as America tore itself apart so it could be rebuilt again.
Without a leader of his caliber, our country might be much different today. If he had failed, the United States likely would have splintered into several countries, and we would look like Europe today.
For that alone, we should be grateful. Who would want to be Europe?
The next person I would invite is former baseball player Bill Buckner. Sports can be cruel especially if somebody gets labeled a goat for a mistake that costs his team a big game.
This happened to Buckner in the 1986 World Series when he played first base for the Boston Red Sox. During game six, he let a ground ball roll between his legs that allowed the winning run to score. If he had made the play, Boston would have won the Series. Because of his misplay, a seventh game was played that Boston also lost, and the New York Mets became world champion.
Even though Boston finally won a World Series in 2004 and 2007, Buckner still gets unfairly treated.
After all, one play does not win or lose games. A mistake in the first inning of a game can be as costly as one in the last inning. Also, people conveniently forget that Boston had a three-run lead in game seven of that series, but let it slip away. And Buckner had nothing to do with that.
Because of this mistreatment, I think I would like to be Buckner's friend.
The fourth person I would invite is Adolf Hitler. I know this is sounds controversial, but hear me out. Obviously, Hitler was an evil man. There is nothing about him that is to be admired. He dedicated his life to unleashing unspeakable horrors on mankind, and he was despicable.
However, to truly understand good, I think a person has to try to understand evil. What would it be like to look into his eyes? Imagine what Jesus would say to him. I don't know what He would say, but I know it would be memorable and perfect.
It would definitely be a lively conversation.
3 comments:
Hitler, huh?
Like I wrote, studying evil could help us understand it more. Hitler was evil.
Yeah, but try getting him to eat what's on his plate. I hear he was a regular chewer of carpets.
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