Historical Events That Shaped Us

Some people love history while others despise it. In reality historical events contribute to shaping us into the people we are. First, we will consider several events that shaped generations over the past one hundred years, and then we will consider an event that occured about two thousand years ago that continues to shape us today.

My grandparents were born in the late 1800s. The event that shaped and shook their lives began on October 24, 1929, when the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. As farmers, they struggled with the prices for crops while they raised their daughter.

My parents were both born in 1925 and lived during the depression. But it was December 7, 1941, that shaped their lives and involved them in World War II. My father was in the army and my mother worked for the Rationing Board.

My wife and I were in high school when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Our focus and attitudes were shaped by the reality that disagreements could end in violence.

Our children were made aware that terrorism was not restricted to Third World or Middle Eastern countries on September 11, 2001. Their alertness and concern for security was hightened.

Our grandchildren started remote learning in March 2020 as the Covid-19 Pandemic spread throughout the US and the world. Masks and isolation became common experiences for them.

In each of those five generations of events death was a common feature. From individuals that jumped from windows and other forms of suicide to the millions who died in war to one who was assassinated and led to the murder of the assassin to thousands as the World Trade Towers collapsed to the many who died in hospitals with no new medicines to combat the virus, death was prevalent.

Two thousand years ago, three died on crosses outside of Jerusalem. Two were robbers and were sentenced to death because of their crimes. The third one was Jesus