Let’s start with a platitude: Deep within, every person has the potential to shine. Okay, we got that over with. Now, let’s look at it. You might like it; I don’t like the expression. I would replace it with another: Deep within, every person has a potential to be curious. Now, I like that one. Curiosity can lead to shining.
In 1787, strontium was an unknown type of “earth.” Recall that from ancient times there was a paring down of materials into “earth, air, fire, and water,” so thinking in terms of an “earth” was not unusual in the eighteenth century. By 1808, strontium, discovered in Strontian, Scotland, had been isolated as a separate element. It had a peculiar property. It gave off a bright red glow in a fire. And so, today, we add strontium chloride, a salt, to our fireworks.
Breaking down unknown “earths” to isolate the 92 naturally occurring elements took a few centuries to accomplish. For most of human existence, the parts of larger “wholes” were unknown, and the potential of brilliant red in strontium chloride lay hidden in dull “earth.” Adair Crawford, a Scottish doctor, and another Scot, Charles Thomas Hope of Edinburgh became curious about rocks from the Strontian mine that turned a candle flame red. What was this stuff? The ever-curious Humphrey Davy then isolated strontium, identifying a new element. The rest, as they should say, is fireworks and TV glass that blocks harmful X-rays while allowing brilliant colors to reach your eyes.
Upturned faces watch fireworks and show delight in the brilliant red of strontium chloride as it contrasts with a dull background. When the fireworks end, many of those faces turn dull, fading into a background of everydayness. Do you think those faces would be dull if they expressed an insatiable curiosity like Crawford, Hope, and Davy? Now look in the mirror. Does your face show the delight derived from curiosity? Isn’t there some unknown physical, emotional, social, or intellectual “earth” you want to investigate?
In 1787, strontium was an unknown type of “earth.” Recall that from ancient times there was a paring down of materials into “earth, air, fire, and water,” so thinking in terms of an “earth” was not unusual in the eighteenth century. By 1808, strontium, discovered in Strontian, Scotland, had been isolated as a separate element. It had a peculiar property. It gave off a bright red glow in a fire. And so, today, we add strontium chloride, a salt, to our fireworks.
Breaking down unknown “earths” to isolate the 92 naturally occurring elements took a few centuries to accomplish. For most of human existence, the parts of larger “wholes” were unknown, and the potential of brilliant red in strontium chloride lay hidden in dull “earth.” Adair Crawford, a Scottish doctor, and another Scot, Charles Thomas Hope of Edinburgh became curious about rocks from the Strontian mine that turned a candle flame red. What was this stuff? The ever-curious Humphrey Davy then isolated strontium, identifying a new element. The rest, as they should say, is fireworks and TV glass that blocks harmful X-rays while allowing brilliant colors to reach your eyes.
Upturned faces watch fireworks and show delight in the brilliant red of strontium chloride as it contrasts with a dull background. When the fireworks end, many of those faces turn dull, fading into a background of everydayness. Do you think those faces would be dull if they expressed an insatiable curiosity like Crawford, Hope, and Davy? Now look in the mirror. Does your face show the delight derived from curiosity? Isn’t there some unknown physical, emotional, social, or intellectual “earth” you want to investigate?
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