I have written before about one of my favorite sci-fi series, Star Trek (the original series from the 60s, not the newer versions), and I want to return there again. I was watching it the other night, and like most of the episodes, the crew beams down to a planet to investigate unknown life readings. It is a beautiful planet, at least in 1960s-era special effects. Chekhov calls it Eden. It is not long before the investigation turns to tragedy though (kind of like the original Eden). One of the crewmen that beamed down with the landing party was killed by a flower that shot poison darts. Now, if you know anything about the 1960s Star Trek series, you know that the guy who wears the red uniform always dies. So it came as no surprise when the poison darts hit the guy in red. What was unique about this particular episode compared with others, was the extra large size of the landing party. There was not just one guy in red…there were four dudes (and a lady) in the dreaded red uniforms. And you guessed it…they all met their demise…and in different ways. Of course there was the dart guy; then there was a guy who stepped on an explosive rock; a guy who was struck by lightning; and a guy who was clubbed in the head by a member of the alien species. (The female in the landing party doesn’t die, because that just would not be right). It was not a good day for the red-wearing crewmen. Of course, it never really is. One has to wonder if they all got together before beaming down and had the discussion about which one would not be returning to the Enterprise.
Now, there was probably nothing that could be done about the three other guys in red, but the one to die from the poison flower was an anomaly. You see, moments after he died, Spock, too, gets hit by a poison flower dart. But this time, Bones (the doctor, for those who are not Trekkies) injects some medicine into Spock, and saves him. So you have to wonder why he didn’t save the doomed red-clothed dude. I guess when you are the unknown crewman in red, you don’t merit having your life saved. Geico would say it like this: When you are the unknown crewman and wear the red uniform, and beam down to a strange planet…you die. It’s what you do.
Speaking of unknowns…real history is full of them as well. Who were the members of George Washington’s spy network? What happened to Amelia Earhart? Where is Noah’s ark? And of course the other things that inquiring minds want to know – is the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot real? But one story of an unknown rises above them all.
It is October 24, 1921, in the French town of Chalons-sur-Marne. At 10 o’clock in the morning, an American serviceman enters the town hall building carrying a spray of white roses. Accompanying Sergeant Edward Younger are French and American officials. Inside the hall are four caskets, each draped with an American flag. According to the official account, Sergeant Younger entered the chamber, circled the caskets three times, then silently placed the flowers on the third casket from the left. He then stood at attention and saluted the fallen warrior. So began the journey of the Unknown Soldier.
Bearing the inscription, “An Unknown American who gave his life in the World War,” the chosen casket traveled to Paris and then to Le Havre, France, where is was placed on the cruiser Olympia for the voyage across the Atlantic. Once in the United States, the Unknown Soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Interestingly, this is an account of an individual who became prominent not because his fellow soldiers identified how gallantly he fought on the battlefield, for no one knew where he had fought and died. No one knows whether he was a young 19 year old, or a seasoned 35 year old. No one knows whether he was a private, a sergeant, or a captain; or if he was single or married. The only prominent feature was that he was, and is, unknown.
There is one other instance of a famous unknown. In this account, the Apostle Paul is standing on the Aeropagus overlooking Athens. He recognizes the Athenians are a very religious people. They have many objects of worship, to include an altar with the inscription, “to the unknown God.” Paul declares, “This unknown God is the one who made the world and everything in it. He gives the breath of life. For in Him we live, and move and have our being.”
In this moment, a moment that has been repeated millions of times since, God moves from a seemingly unknown and unknowable far-away entity, to a close, knowable, relational God and friend in whom those who follow him live, move and have their being.
One more thing. Thankfully, this known and knowable God sent his Son Jesus to save everyone, and not just the main characters. In this story (the only one that counts), you can be saved…even if you are the unknown crewman in red.
Faith, Leadership, and History 