Theresa and I had been joking for years about going to see Wheel of Fortune
live. We had ridden past the SONY Studios many times going to see Christopher,
the old Columbia Studios, and I would love to see all the history inside. A
previous visit onto the Warner lot for Bud Ekins’ memorial was an eye opener in
many ways. Riding our bikes through the sets, seeing where the films were
made. So getting online, I got two free tickets, and in September will be at a
315pm taping. I am more interested in seeing how things work behind the scenes,
and any historical stuff I might encounter than seeing Vanna and her anorexic
arms. To see what goes on behind the scenes fascinates me, I like to see how
things work. And then compare it to the final product. The website says “get
your chance to meet Vanna and Pat,” I can just imagine, “Mike, so glad you
finally made it, we’ve been wanting to meet you for years. Tell us about
riding....” Yeah, right. So along with all the representatives of senior
America, of RV’ers and trailer parks everywhere, we’ll be there! With free
parking, hey this might be a better deal than Disneyland, I’ll let you know
about any lines.
But I am anxious to get behind the scenes. To see what really goes on, and
how the production crew makes it all happen. I had told how my 8 hours of
taping for SALT resulted in less than a minute on screen, no idea how long the
taping will take. Even if we get out at rush hour, we can lane split so we
still have the advantage. But depending how enamored I am with it all, who
knows how much I will hurry. I tend to drift away from the tour group,
seemingly by accident. In 4th grade we got to tour the Metuchen, New Jersey
Ford Plant and see Mustangs assembled. Guess who was the only one to get lost,
I mean separated from the group? I got lost at a Mets game at the old Polo
Grounds, and was found by Miss Rheingold filming a commercial between innings.
I have a curiousity to see how things work, what goes on behind the scenes, and
just like Dorothy and friends were told “pay no attention to that man behind the
curtain,” I take it as an invitation to look. We all have it in us, we push
the barriers while in line, we touch wet paint ignoring the signs, and when told
the plate is hot instinctively reach out and touch it. Rebels all, so I am
looking forward to browsing at Wheel of Fortune. With apologies to the meeting
of Pat and Vanna, maybe they will get to meet me!
As much as I am impressed with manufacturing, I am more impressed with who
designed and built the assembly line. Who build the machines to build the
products. Henry Ford didn’t invent the assembly line, contrary to an article I
read yesterday, nor did he ever say “any color you want as long as it is
black.” Cars until the twenties were painted black because it dried faster.
And the assembly line was an idea he got from packing houses, who slid the beef
carcasses on an overhead conveyer to the next station. But how many know it
took standardized parts to make it all happen? Without a standard to bolts and
nuts, it would not be possible. And someone had to build those machines, who
had to build those machines. It takes a lot to build a car, and as much as I
like cars, I am more impressed with the factory. We have toured the River Rouge
Plant where Ford makes F150’s, once the largest industrial complex in the world,
amazing how it all gets together, and how sanitary and clean. Built my
confidence in buying one after seeing them built. But some scenes I rather not
look behind, slaughterhouses, kitchens in restaurants, and those working on
airplanes, like the one we were stuck on in Chicago for two hours once while
listening to the men cuss and make rude comments about what junk the planes
were, and how they hoped they had fixed the problem. A shirt once asked about
Harley, “if they made a plane would you fly on it?” I think I’ll stick with my
two wheels when I want to fly....
We take God for granted, and maybe his size and abilities when we just
gloss over “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....” Out of
bara, nothing. Like where was he before the beginning? It says he breathed us
into existence, did he have Chinese food on his breath one day, Italian the
next? What about Mexican food? When I look at my hand, and see how complex it
is, just wiggle your thumb, simple to move yet complex to accomplish. I think
of my heart and how complex it is, and how he held it in his hands during my
surgery. So much could have gone wrong, but he held the equipment and the
surgeon together. I don’t need to know how my body works to be impressed with
who made it. But I am none the less. Some believe in the theory of evolution,
yet we are all decaying daily, the Second Law of Thermodynamics proves all
things are constantly atrophying. A law, not a theory, we all get older, not
younger, and waste away. Thanks to sin....we are not getting any better. But
we can be forgiven, and Jesus is the way the creator created for us to be
reunited with him. Because of Jesus we can make it to heaven, where we will be
perfect once again, I will have a new heart, my plastic aorta will be replaced,
and for the third time I will have a new heart. The first when I gave it to him,
the second when I got the plastic aorta, and soon in heaven. For good, and
forever. I want to marvel at how God created the heavens and the earth, to see
behind the scenes of how he works, but for now just have to trust he does
without seeing it. The evidence is enough to prove his existence, but I want to
see it all. I want all of God I can get! And it will take an infinite amount
of time to see all an infinite God has to offer. Forever is a very long time!
Where you spend it is up to you! Hell was made for the devil and his angels,
not for man, yet when we sinned and fell short of God’s glory we were doomed to
go there. Who you follow will decide where you end up. Jesus is the way out,
which may sound way out, but is very simple. The one who created us knows how
to fix us, sustain us, and save us. No other God nor religion can deliver what
only God promises through Jesus. No one. No salvation in creation, or in any
other created being.
I’m sure we will have to sign a release to see Wheel, just like we did at
the Rouge Plant. Liability to protect them from us. Little old me that
important a threat? Only Jesus forgives sin, and protects us from hell. Keeps
us from it. A created place, but so is heaven. One for God’s children, the
other for fallen angels. And you get to choose! My seating for Wheel says
preferred, preferred what? By the exit? The stage? The men’s room? By
Vanna? Don’t let life be as puzzling as the Wheel, Jesus makes it simple so I
can get it, free so I can afford it. I can see it now, being told to stay
behind a certain wall, and guess where you won’t find me? Stay within the
lines, within the box. Don’t touch the hot plate, or look behind the curtain.
Only God invites you to see behind the curtain behind you and him, and invites
you in. No secrets in Jesus, he is truth. The truth. If life is a puzzle, I
have it figured out. For God so loved the world he sent his only son....which
makes me the big winner. I can have it all now, all the winnings. Which is
much better than the big winner, who can wait up until 120 days to receive his
winnings. I know what is behind door number 1, I don’t need to see what is
behind doors number two or three. I won on the first try with Christ, I hope
Pat and Vanna are as excited to see me! If only they knew.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com