I was getting off the plane in Salt Lake City, walking down the ramp off the plane when I heard my name; “Mike.” I turned to see my neighbor, Brother [I’m going to leave his name off this]. He’s a great guy though. We asked each other a few cordial questions. What are you doing, and why were you in Denver? I explained I was at a business conference in Denver. Then he told me he had flown out to Denver to see Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day.
It all kind of made sense. In the airport, we saw an unusual amount of Green Day swag, so much so that I mentioned it to my co-worker traveling with me. So much so that I mentioned it to my coworker with whom I was traveling. As I looked into it on my phone, I realized just last night, there was a show at Coors Field in Denver. Not more than a few blocks from where I was staying. I had no idea. The more I looked at it, I got a little jealous.
Later on that evening, I was thinking about it, would I have actually gone to the show if I had known about it? I have previously tried to see what events and entertainment were in cities I was traveling to. I didn’t even consider it on this trip.
- My schedule was way jacked up. I didn’t finish breaking down my booth from the event I was at until 6 PM
- I had to return to load my booth before 10 or 11 PM. We ended up arriving at 9 PM, waiting until 10:30 PM, not finishing until after 12 AM the next morning.
- On top of all of that, I was on a time crunch because I had to be at the airport by about 8 AM the next morning.
- My time was so short, that I never even made it to the Denver Temple, which was on my to-do list.
Then another thought crossed my mind. In my free time, I had been consumed with projects I was writing for this blog. I was engaged in spiritual things. Not only that, I wanted to be engaged in spiritual things. My mind was focused on those things. I thought about the environment I would have been in:
- It was a Sunday night. I can’t remember ever going to a concert on a Sunday before. I’ve purposefully not gone to them in the past because they were on Sunday.
- I was in Colorado where Marijuana is legal. Though it would have been outside in a baseball stadium, I’m sure the smoke would have been everywhere and lingered. Weed was everywhere and I’m sure it would have been more so at this concert.
I’m going to compare it to this… When I was in Denver, I could have been “Temple-Minded” or I could have been “Green Day / Dookie-Minded.” I could have been spiritually minded or feces and diarrhea-minded. Which is probably the best contrast that could have been painted between my two options.
After thinking about it a bit, I was glad I was unaware. I was glad my mind was consumed in spiritual thoughts rather than what band can I see or how could I be entertained. Every time I go to these trade shows, I’m reminded of how morally broken so many people are. I’m not sure if it is decernment or temptation, I would like to think decernment. My mind is often filled with all of the debauchery that can take place when you mix alcohol, money, and distance from your family. I’m not going to go into details, but I always feel safest in my hotel room. So, I return there and often never leave my room until morning.
I’m sure the concert would have been cool. I have lots of memories of listening to both Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day. But if I’m being honest with myself; where does it fall into the Good, Better, Best choices I could make? It probably wouldn’t have even been a good choice.
And, that is my perspective. Here is a Smashing Pumpkins song for you. Some people hate it. I have always loved it.
TODAY – Smashing Pumpkins
[Chorus 1]
Today is the greatest
Day I’ve ever known
Can’t live for tomorrow
Tomorrow’s much too long
I’ll burn my eyes out
Before I get out
[Verse 1]
I wanted more
Than life could ever grant me
Bored by the chore
Of saving face
[Chorus 2]
Today is the greatest
Day I’ve ever known
Can’t wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I’ll tear my heart out
Before I get out
[Verse 2]
Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings
[Chorus 3]
Today is
Today is
Today is
The greatest day, ooh
Ooh, oh, oh, ooh
[Bridge]
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you
[Outro]
Today is the greatest
Today is the greatest day
Today is the greatest day
That I have ever really known