Following the Tracks My son, Graham

My son, Graham, has been working on his Space Exploration Merit in our boys ministry program, Royal Rangers. As he was doing a Google search on the topic, he came across a really interesting article. You can see the entire article at www.astrodigital.org/space/stshorse.html. The article starts by asking if you know that the distance between the rails on the railroad track are four foot eight and half inches. Where in the world did such an odd measurement come from? As we follow these tracks we make some very interesitng discoveries. According to this article it came from England because the first U.S. railroads were built by former Englishmen, and that was the measurement between the rails on the English railroad system. Well then, why did the English use this measurement? Apparently, the article claims that the English railroad used this measurement because it was the same distance used by the folks who built the tramways. They claim that folks who built the tramways used this measurement because that was the spacing used between the wagon wheels by those who built wagons. The folks who built the wagons used this measurement because of the ruts in the old roads across England that were made by Roman chariots. Finally they claim that the chariot makers used this odd measurement because they were trying to build the chariots just big enough to accomodate two horse's rear ends.

Ruts in Pompei made by Roman chariots

Now if you find all that hard to believe, here's the reason the article was found under space exploration. The SRB (solid rocket boosters) that you see on the sides of the main fuel tank on the Space shuttle when it launces are built at a factory in Utah. Since these rocket booster would be shipped by rail, they had to factor in the size of railroad tunnels, when they built them. Their article therefore concludes, "So a major design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was originally determined by the width" of a horse's rear end. (Another website to see on this tale is www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.htm, a good article by Cecil Adams)

(cartoon from www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.htm)

What amazes me most is how that decisions made so many thousand of years ago continue to impact our lives today. Who would have believed that the distance between Roman chariot wheels could have had such and impact on modern life? Today, I want you take that thought a step further. Do you realize that there are decisions you make that may not only impact generations to come but will matter for all eternity? The truth is that how you decide to live your life is impacting everyone in your sphere of influence, especially your children. What you teach them will definitely impact generations to come. Evidence of this kind of impact on future generations is found in the text of the "Ten Commandments," in Exodus 20:4-6.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything
in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
punishing the children for the sin of the fathers
to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
but showing love to a thousand {generations}
of those who love me and keep my commandments.

No decision we make is more important than whether we choose to obey God and honor Him as God with our lives or to ignore His claims and live life our way instead of His. That decision is of eternal importance. Perhaps you have been putting off some important decisions. Maybe you just keep saying to yourself, "Oh, I'll deal with that later." Today, I want to encourage you to make that decision for God. Acknowledge Him as God in your life and purpose in your heart to live for Him from this day on. Impact future generations as you prepare your heart and soul for eternity.