May 3, 2013 (Friday)
“Following the launch of NASA’s Early Bird satellite on May 3, 1965, Today cast and crew traveled to Europe for a special live broadcast of the show. Host Hugh Downs was stationed at Westminster Abbey in London, Barbara Walters was in Paris, Jack Lescoulie was in Amsterdam, and Frank Blair reported from the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington. Pope Paul VI read a message live from the Vatican, marveling at the communications now possible between nations.” (Wikipedia).
Since that historic presentation 48 years ago, communications by satellite have exploded in many ways. But the use of satellites in television broadcasting, especially in the news, is mind boggling, to say the least. We have grown accustomed to it, and take it for granted these days.
Not only are television broadcasts likely to come from almost any place in the world, private communications have followed suit. Through the use of Skype, people can see each other and talk with each other on their computers. Amazing! Thousands of miles may separate you, but you can see each other and talk with each other if you like. Flabbergasting!
In the early days of this technology, I saw the celebrated Arthur Godfrey, broadcasting from Miami on his show. He asked the crew to show a view from a camera in New York City, where it was cold and snowing. Then he asked that they show the surf in the Atlantic at warm and sunny Miami. Finally he asked them to blend the pictures so that the surf was breaking in snow-covered Times Square. Everyone had a big laugh.
You no longer have to guess at your location. If you have a handheld GPS, you can see a digital readout of your exact location, right down to the inch. How? Satellites. Want to see your house from space? Just click on “maps” in “Google.” What a world! All this and so much more has come upon us during our lifetime.
Devotional Thought:
Psalm 139:1-6 MSG: “God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too–
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful–I can’t take it all in!
In an era when satellites see all, and security cameras, etc. are almost omnipresent, we should be comforted by the thought that this is our Father’s world, and he not only sees us, he cares about us.