Well, many historical events weren’t particularly happy ones. Maybe I’d like to witness the Christmas truce between the British and the Germans in 1914, but it didn’t last very long.
My grandfather fought in World War 1. And my other grandfather was in the merchant navy during both world wars. Either could have been killed. Thankfully, both survived it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here 😀.
When I consider going back in time, I generally think in terms of my own lifetime. I have witnessed some historical events. I’m pleased that I attended the Live Aid concert in 1985, but I witnessed other events through TV. I remember the moon landing in 1969, when I was seven. They tried to wake me in the middle of the night, but I waited until the repeat the next day. I remember my family urging me to get up in the middle of the night and telling me that I’d be able to tell my grandchildren that I witnessed it. Well, maybe I’ll be able to tell them that I didn’t bother getting out of bed for it 😀.
But I do vividly remember it on TV the next day. In my early childhood, the moon and the assasination of President Kennedy loomed large. I also remember the tragic Aer Lingus Viscount aircrash in 1968. A priest in our local church and several others in our parish died in the crash. And I remember hearing about the 1967 “summer of love” in San Francisco, and the song – If You Go to San Francisco. I heard All You Need is Love around the same time – in a funfair in Youghal, Country Cork. Again, things swiftly changed. Generally speaking, in this world, any new exciting initiative or movement has mixed results – never an entirely happy outcome. Yet they can inspire us.
I remember seeing the fall of the Berlin Wall live on TV in 1989 – and the beginning of the IRA ceasfire on TV in 1994 – followed by the signing of the Good Friday agreement in 1998.
Speaking of Good Friday, I would find it hard to witness the crucifixion of Jesus, though I view it as the greatest event in history. Millions, hopefully billions, will be in heaven as a result of that. I would like to witness one of the 12-14 resurrection appearances of Jesus.
My favourite is probably where he had breakfast with the disciples. If it was just a matter of one person claiming to have some strange vision or a group seeing a figure in the distance that looked like Jesus, it wouldn’t be as convincing. I like to think that I would still believe, given how the words, work, and life of Jesus proved Him to be the Son of God during his three-year public ministry. He could have chosen to quietly ascend to heaven and still send the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. But He chose to demonstrate that He was alive, which help us to see that we too will rise one day.
John 21:10-14
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Hibernia Gospel 
Cool that you went to the Live Aid concert.
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