I love old television episodes of various genres. The original Twilight Zone is one of them. Recently I saw one episode that actually has a lot of food for thought in it. It is called 'The Shelter.' It struck a cord with me because it illustrates a growing trend of ill preparation for, and at the sacrifice of, the future for the emotionally perceived needs and wants of the here and now.
'The Shelter' takes place at a suburban residence just outside of New York City. It is a birthday party for a doctor who had a strange obsession with preparedness. The party is complete with family and friends all with fond feelings and happy faces. In particular, his preparation included building a bomb shelter in the basement of his home. How stupid and dumb, right? Low and behold, only as Rod Serling can do it, a mysterious raid is publicly announced and people are urged to seek shelter. What happens next was truly food for thought for all modern day man.
Watch Twilight Zone 'The Shelter'
The doctor and his family immediately brought down necessities to the bomb shelter. This consisted of water, radio, his doctor's bag and other items to sustain life. As they were headed down the stairs a knock on the door sounded. It was one of his close neighbor friends who sought shelter for his family in the doctor's bomb shelter. An argument broke out because the doctor was adamant that the shelter is only designed for three people and that he cannot take any more. This basic scenario continued.
All the close friends and their families soon came over and in a violent manner began to threaten to break the door down. Among them though started tensions as they all pinned their family's lives as more important than the other's. As they continued to pursue the protective cover of the doctor's they were told through the door that they were warned but wouldn't listen. If only they prioritized and had fewer parties and frivolous pursuits. No sooner did they break down the door another public announcement was given that it was a false raid. It was only harmless satellites overhead.
The moral of the story is to contemplate how firm is our foundation of the lives we've built. Are our friendships strong through thick and thin? In our personal lives are we shoring up future happiness by preparing for hard times? Hard times doesn't have to mean bombs or wars. What about the loss of job? What about injury or sudden illness? What about fires? What if your son with a family lost his job. Will you let his children suffer?
True happiness will never lie in the here and now. It dwells in preparing for the future in all aspects that life may be sustained in order to pursue continued happiness.
These people thought the doctor's pursuits were trivial. Yet, at a critical moment what was considered a lifetime friendship turned out to be convenience only for the moment. Once a friend - can instantly turn to foe for those who are weak and ill prioritized.
I highly recommend Rod Serling's Twilight Zone original episode of 'The Shelter' for an intriguing true look at the psyche of the willing, and unwilling, mind.
'The Shelter' takes place at a suburban residence just outside of New York City. It is a birthday party for a doctor who had a strange obsession with preparedness. The party is complete with family and friends all with fond feelings and happy faces. In particular, his preparation included building a bomb shelter in the basement of his home. How stupid and dumb, right? Low and behold, only as Rod Serling can do it, a mysterious raid is publicly announced and people are urged to seek shelter. What happens next was truly food for thought for all modern day man.
Watch Twilight Zone 'The Shelter'
The doctor and his family immediately brought down necessities to the bomb shelter. This consisted of water, radio, his doctor's bag and other items to sustain life. As they were headed down the stairs a knock on the door sounded. It was one of his close neighbor friends who sought shelter for his family in the doctor's bomb shelter. An argument broke out because the doctor was adamant that the shelter is only designed for three people and that he cannot take any more. This basic scenario continued.
All the close friends and their families soon came over and in a violent manner began to threaten to break the door down. Among them though started tensions as they all pinned their family's lives as more important than the other's. As they continued to pursue the protective cover of the doctor's they were told through the door that they were warned but wouldn't listen. If only they prioritized and had fewer parties and frivolous pursuits. No sooner did they break down the door another public announcement was given that it was a false raid. It was only harmless satellites overhead.
The moral of the story is to contemplate how firm is our foundation of the lives we've built. Are our friendships strong through thick and thin? In our personal lives are we shoring up future happiness by preparing for hard times? Hard times doesn't have to mean bombs or wars. What about the loss of job? What about injury or sudden illness? What about fires? What if your son with a family lost his job. Will you let his children suffer?
True happiness will never lie in the here and now. It dwells in preparing for the future in all aspects that life may be sustained in order to pursue continued happiness.
These people thought the doctor's pursuits were trivial. Yet, at a critical moment what was considered a lifetime friendship turned out to be convenience only for the moment. Once a friend - can instantly turn to foe for those who are weak and ill prioritized.
I highly recommend Rod Serling's Twilight Zone original episode of 'The Shelter' for an intriguing true look at the psyche of the willing, and unwilling, mind.
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