Looking back over the last century might be a real eye opener. Especially for those born in the 21st century. In the 1920s the automobile industry was getting underway with the Model T Ford. A crank was used to get it started, and tires were not made for rustic roads that still existed. Today, we have cars that practically drive themselves which receive their power from an electrical plug. Radio was becoming the entertainment of the day with situation comedies and shows like “Inner Sanctum,” which scared us to pieces. Now we get our entertainment on a handheld screen which offers more than we need to see or hear in a lifetime.

In the 1920s the subject in the newspapers was prohibition and gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger. Violence was the fare of the day. The criminals held a certain popularity in this time of anything goes and the roaring ’20s. There were the suffragettes who protested for prohibition and the Irish and German immigrants who liked their beer and protested against it. There was an increase in labor unions, which looked out for problems in the workplace and those employed there.

Fashions were changing too. Ladies turned in their corsets for more comfortable undergarments. The dresses were much shorter, exposing legs that had been hidden for years. They cut their hair short in what today is called a “bob.” Makeup became part of their fashion statement and freedom of movement made life a lot easier for many of them. Women were making themselves known during this time.

The United States had just finished their participation in a world war, so women were doing jobs that men left behind. Protests became popular. Farmers and ranchers had their issues. Women were demanding more rights. The government was filled with corruption as police, judges, lawyers and juries were bribed.

People remained patriotic. Love of the United States of America was still a popular notion along with the promise of fulfillment of the American dream. It was the age of invention – the telephone, television, rocket experiments, and many appliances that made housework a lot easier. The washing machine, electric iron, toasters, the first air conditioning units and refrigerators were all invented during the 1920s.

So here we are, 100 years later. I wasn’t around for the 1920’s, but during my 83 years I’ve seen an abundance of inventions that have altered the way we live. Technology is the biggest factor. Instant everything has become a way of life. So much so that we demand answers immediately. Another thing I’ve noticed in my lifetime is that God is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. If we place our hope and trust in Him, we can count on promises fulfilled.

“The past isn’t gone; it’s just waiting to happen again.” Maya Angelou