THE SHOW:
Wednesday, October 24, NBC premieres a show called “Phenomenon” where magicians/mentalists compete to demonstrate their “special powers.” “Phenomenon” airs at 8:00 PM EDT.
THE STORY:
It’s fascinating to read the stories, many of them legendary, about the late Houdini. That masterful magician was probably a better locksmith than he was a magician. He had a standing challenge that he could get out of any locked jail in 60 minutes, providing they would let him enter in his regular street clothes and not watch him work.
One of the stories is about a little town in the
He accepted the challenge. He was allowed to enter the jail in his street clothes. People said they saw the locksmith turn the lock some strange way, and then with the clang of steel, everybody turned their backs and left him alone to work. Houdini had hidden a long flexible steel rod in his belt, which is what he used to try to trip the lock. He worked for 30 minutes. He kept his ear close to the lock - 45 minutes, and then an hour passed; he was perspiring. After two hours, he was exhausted. He leaned against the door, and to his amazement, it fell open. They had never locked the door! It was their trick on the great escape artist!
The door was locked only in Houdini’s mind. That’s the only place it was locked! Some of you think that you can’t overcome your problem. The only place where it is impossible is in your thinking. That’s the only thing that’s locked!
THE SONG:
Heaven knows it wasn’t you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the keys.
from “Already Gone” by the Eagles
