Why we shouldn't always believe the NYT, and others...

"A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth's atmosphere."

That is a fact. The New York Times said it. Believe it or not, they did say it, in an article in 1936.

Lately I've been reflecting on how often times we don't try things, believe things, give people a chance, experiment, follow a dream, or try anything new simply because of what people tells us.

But people have a funny way of stating, with absolute certainty how certain things will never happen. Consider some of the following:

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), maker of big business mainframe computers, arguing against the PC in 1977.

“There is practically no chance communications space satellites will be used to provide better telephone, telegraph, television, or radio service inside the United States.” — T. Craven, FCC Commissioner, in 1961 (the first commercial communications satellite went into service in 1965).

“There will never be a bigger plane built.” — A Boeing engineer, after the first flight of the 247, a twin engine plane that holds ten people

Starting to see a trend here? How about a couple more...

“[Television] won’t be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.” — Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946.

“The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to no one in particular?” — Associates of David Sarnoff responding to the latter’s call for investment in the radio in 1921.

I am an expert! I know what's possible and this certainly is not! That is a fact!

Hhmm, seems like there's only one real position we should take in life: anything is possible.

So what voice(s) have you been listening to lately?

"I'll never get married."

"I could never go back to college and find a better job."

"My spouse is never going to change."

"I'll never get out of debt."

"He'll never stop drinking."

Let me encourage you: rockets have left the atmosphere, many people in America have a computer in their home and many more want one, hundreds of satellites orbit the earth, the airbus A380 holds up to 520 people (a few more than 10), all while television and radio are both doing fine.

Walt Disney said 'it's kind of fun to do the impossible.'

Hey, go out and have some fun, because "nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)