But the train kept going…

Feature Article – David Jordan (Excerpted from the June 2018 Pro-Motion Music e-newsletter)

On the Train, Off the Train, On the Train, Off the Train…

A few years ago, I was in the Studebaker Mansion in South Bend Indiana. Nice dining, by the way. Well, we took a little impromptu tour of the place after dinner. We were up on the third floor, the original ballroom. It was summer and
up there on the third floor, the air conditioning wasn’t available. I would bet the dancers “in that day”, we’re talking 1889, wished someone had invented deodorant by that time. Sorry.

What struck me was this. The train had stopped in South Bend in 1889. Several people got off and thought they were in the ultimate luxury of the time. Which at the time they were.

But the train kept going. Today we ordinary citizens have many things the richest people of that time didn’t have. Things that no one of that time even comprehended would be available.

The Mansion and all the riches money could afford, didn’t have air conditioning, refrigerators, microwaves, the web, TV, lighting, air-controlled mattresses, ESPN, cars with air conditioning, stereo, WIFI, automatic temperature controls (dual) on and on. Refrigerators, microwaves, well you get the idea.

We have them. We all got on the train at a later station and we don’t even think much about what wasn’t at earlier stations.

There were plenty of people who got off the train who were satisfied and thought nothing could be or would be better than they experienced. For many, it worked just like it does today.

The question is: When do you get off the train and why? When is enough, enough for your purposes?

It’s okay to get off. But don’t waste precious moments being upset because the train keeps going on down the track.

Remember how life-changing the fax machine was. The what? What about the first ice maker? I don’t either but just sayin’.

If you’ve gone through chemo you are faced with the reality that life can end fast or go on for a long time. When you realize that you could go on for a long time, Life gets really exciting. You start looking for new tracks on which to travel until the station you want comes into view.

Decide whether you want to get off the train or keep going to see what the future might hold. No matter what the naysayers would have you believe, there’s an exciting future and you may want to be part of it, partake in it. You will be very amazed!

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Dr. Jeannine Jordan, concert organist with her husband David, media artist, are the creators and performers of Bach and Sons, From Sea to Shining Sea, and Around the World in 80 Minutes — live organ concerts with multi-media.