Harry's Secret

His name was Erich Weiss by the time of his death he was likely one the highest paid entertainers of his day. He was born into a Hungarian-Jewish household in 1874. He lived in Appleton, WI; I have driven past his house situated over the river. His name was changed to Harry. A master showman known for his mystifying magic, and a distinguished flyer. What we remember him most for is his ability to escape. He was the master of "escape-ology" (wow is that a new word?...you heard it first right here).

On March 10th, sometime around 1904(?) he was challenged by the London "Daily Illustrated Mirror" to escape from a special pair of handcuffs they had prepared. There were six locks on each cuff and nine tumblers on each lock. Seven days later 4000 spectators gathered in the London Hippodrome to witness the outcome of this seemingly impossible challenge.

At 3:15 in the afternoon Harry Houdini stepped into an empty cabinet that came up to his waist, he lowered himself into the the box. Out of sight for 20 minutes he stood up smiling. The crowd broke out in applause thinking that he was free...but he was not, he only asked for more light. The lights shown brighter and again he lowered himself into the box for another 15 minutes.Once again he rose out of the box and into the sight of the crowd. Applause erupted certainly he was free now; he said he needed only to flex his knees. Down into the cabinet box again for another 20 minutes (the crowd murmuring and wondering what was going on, certainly this was unusual for Mr Houdini). The heat of the lights and the confines of the cabinet were too much, he was overheating.

Leaping from the wooden cabinet Harry twisted and turned until his manacled hands were in front of him so he could reach a pocket knife in his vest pocket. Harry opened the knife with his teeth and bent over so far that his coat tails fell and hung over his head. Grabbing the coat he pulled it over his head and then proceeded to cut and slash his jacket to ribbons and toss it aside. The crowd roaring with approval Harry leaped back into the box. Again lowering himself he remained out of sight for another 10 minutes. With all of the drama and flourish that he could Harry leaped out of the box to show his hands were indeed free waving the bulky handcuffs over his head. Pandaemonium erupted and the crowd exploded with excitement and enthusiasm; certainly Harry Houdini had accomplished the seemingly impossible.

Later Harry was questioned in an interview why he had interrupt the process so many times with what seemed meaningless reasons. He replied that his ability to escape was based firmly in the knowledge that could escape. His ability to escape was based in knowledge. He interrupted the show to allow the audience to to bolster and keep up his own enthusiasm. Two things set Harry free that day, the knowledge that he could indeed be set free and the cultivation of his own enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is vital in all of our lives. It is what keeps us going forward in the face of the dull monotony of life; we must find something to get excited about and run with it. Without an enthusiasm for learning, teachers and students fail, without it salespeople starve, and leaders would have no followers. Nothing really important is ever achieved without some form of enthusiasm to motivate us to accomplish the deed.

The secret to our lives as Christians is to have a knowledge of all of the great things that God has promised us, and being excited about it. His Word should stir up and instill enthusiasm in us. No one is going to be interested in the God you serve or your  testimony if you are not excited about being a Christian.

When you cannot "feel" the excitement of your own Christianity...you better "know" something about your Christianity.