You’ve likely heard the statement, “Uh, Houston, we’ve had a problem!” You may remember experiencing the excitement and fear of astronauts in the 60s and 70s going into the unknown of space with very few things they could control. When tests were being run while the craft was floating in space, Apollo 13 astronauts alerted ground control (who ironically had little control) that something bad and unexpected had happened. If you remember, the astronauts were able to return safely to Earth and learned a great deal from the experience.

I’ve heard this statement many times in many settings and I’ve used it myself. It’s sometimes comical, but also used as an attention-grabber when something serious needs a solution and quick-thinking. Life has plenty of those “Houston” moments. Some people may feel they experience too many “Houston” moments. Wouldn’t it be nice to foresee troubles? There is a line from Dante that states, “The arrow seen before cometh less rudely” (Divine Comedy). If I could look ahead and know more about the troubles I’ll face, I would likely feel more secure when facing them. The reality is, we can’t know it all, but we can know that we will face trials. It’s part of the cost of living.

Who hasn’t been discouraged before? Most people have felt this, one of the most human feelings, discouragement. It is the opposite of courage (meaning – heart or true sense of self). There’s no shame in experiencing discouragement, but it certainly doesn’t feel good. F. Scott Fitzgerald once made this observation, “trouble has no necessary connection with discouragement — discouragement has a germ of its own, as different from trouble as arthritis is different from a stiff joint” (The Crack-Up, 1945). The truth is, “trouble” is one thing and how ‘we respond’ to it is quite another. Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, spent almost everything he had and 10 years of his life to developing a battery. He had other inventions that were supporting his work. One of his other ventures exploded into flames, bringing the fledgling fire departments of eight towns to try to salvage, control, and/or put out the fire. Nothing could be done. Mr. Edison was 67 years old, a time when most would be winding down and preparing for retirement… Charles Edison, his son, was worried his father could not handle one more upset, especially of this magnitude. Upon seeing his father running toward him, Thomas Edison stated, “Where’s your mother? Go get her. Tell her to get her friends. They’ll never see another fire like this as long as they live!”

By 5:30 the next morning with fires still smoldering, he assembled his workers and announced, “We’re rebuilding.” One worker was instructed to lease every machine shop in the area, while another was sent to acquire a wrecking crane from Erie Railroad Company. As an afterthought, Thomas Edison added, “Oh, by the way. Anybody know where we can get some money?” (Paraphrased from Charles Edison, “My Most Unforgettable Character,” Reader’s Digest, December 1961, pp. 175–77.)

What a remarkable series of tragedies and responses! Consider this, almost every invention we now recognize as a Thomas Edison contribution to our lives (comforts, safety, capacities, etc.) came after that disaster. Though clouded by troubles, discouragement does not have to keep us from happiness and peace. Since we cannot stop troubles, we press on. We gain strength when we look over ALL of the troubles we’ve seen and overcome. The poet, Robert Frost, said, with most things “the only way out is through.” (“A Servant to Servants” by Robert Frost).

Yes, “Houston,” there may be a problem, but we can face it because that’s what we were built to do, Overcome!

Credit: Much of the source quote content comes from a speech “For Times of Trouble” by Jeffrey Holland given in 1980 at Brigham Young University.

Spencer Blalock, DHA, LCSW, BCD, is a clinical specialist with Senior Care – a service of Rush Health Systems

If you are a senior adult struggling with worry, sadness, or loss and/or are struggling with coping with daily living, Senior Care can offer help and hope. Contact us at 601-703-4917 for more information or visit www.rushhealthsystems.org/seniorcare.