On March 3, 1876, residents of Olympia Springs, Kentucky, awoke to a sight that would baffle scientists, shock locals, and amuse generations to come.
Chunks of red meat—some as small as two inches, others up to four—fell from the sky and covered the farm of Allen and Rebecca Crouch. Even crazier, the meat bits covered an area about 100 yards by 50 yards.
To put that in perspective, that area is about the same size as a modern football field which measures 120 yards by 53.3 yards when you include the endzones.
Mrs. Crouch and other eyewitnesses described the pieces as ranging from the “size of a pea to that of a human finger.” Some were as big as four inches square. Neighbors and visitors came from far and wide, and the event soon garnered national media attention.
Various headlines were published in U. S. papers:
The Carnal Rain
The Rain of Flesh
The Kentucky Meat Shower
Some of the townspeople—bewildered, brave, or reckless—tasted some of the mystery meat. Various declarations as to the species were made.
Was it beef or lamb? Could it be venison, bear, or horseflesh? A couple of people even claimed it was of human origin, though that brings up a whole host of other questions that aren’t relevant to what I have to discuss here today.
Was this a sign from the Almighty? Was it a freak of nature? Was it normal in these parts of Kentucky, but never talked about before?
Samples were sent to laboratories for analysis. Early conjectures included the idea that it was some sort of bacteria or that it was frog spawn blown in by the wind. Yet, microscopic evidence confirmed that it was indeed animal flesh.
Some samples were identified as lung tissue. Others confirmed that they were dealing with muscle or cartilage. Given the structure of the tissue, the likely sources were either from a horse or [please stop reading if you don’t want to be completely traumatized] …
[Last warning…]
Human infant. Sad but true.
Now, the most widely accepted explanation of the event is the “vulture vomit” theory. When threatened or startled, vultures are known to regurgitate their last “meal” as a defensive mechanism or to simply lighten themselves for flight.
Occam’s Razor suggests that a flock of vultures flying overhead simultaneously vomited, showering the Crouch farm with carrion of some sort. Nevertheless, the event remains distinctive in its scale and notoriety, not to mention the enduring mystery.
The Kentucky Meat Shower indeed remains one of the strangest unsolved mysteries in history, remembered for its sheer improbability and the range of reactions it provoked.
Why do I bring you this story today? At first glance, the Kentucky Meat Shower may look like little more than a historical oddity, or something to hold in your back pocket for trivia night at the local pub.
However, look at it, instead, as a metaphor for the unexpected challenges and opportunities that life throws at us. In my coaching and consulting practice, we often encounter folks who have had their carefully ordered lives completely disrupted by something utterly out of the ordinary.
Some would say, “Embrace the chaos!”
Life ain’t that simple.
Many of us lack the tools to power through a chaotic “meat shower,” if you will. What does one do about events like a sudden career change, the torpedoing of a relationship, or any other unforeseen obstacle? These are things that leave most of us confused, searching for meaning, and, at the very least, looking for ways to put one foot in front of the other.
Our mission is to cleanse you from the debris of your meat shower experience.
Not everything can be explained … and that’s okay.
Sometimes things simply defy logic or easy categorization. We help people accept ambiguity and uncertainty and help them move forward, even when they can’t quite figure out their “why.” There’s still life to live if we don’t have it all figured out.
Perspective matters.
For the townsfolk, a random meat shower was shocking and probably frightening. For the scientists, it was a puzzle. For us today, it scratches the curiosity itch. Coaching, the way we operate, encourages people to reframe their experiences, seek new perspectives, and find opportunities in the “unexpected.”
Transformation through story.
Sharing stories, especially the strange ones or the ones you find “out of the ordinary,” unlocks new ways of thinking. I use storytelling to show that life’s bizarre moments aren’t always roadblocks, but invitations to improve mental toughness and resilience.
Take Lucky Day of the Three Amigos, who put it so brilliantly:
“In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be the actual El Guapo!”
This is a long way of saying, you can face your own personal Kentucky Meat Shower.
When life rains down unexpected meat out of the sky, will you stand in confusion, or will you seek the lesson or the opportunity it provides?
We’ll help you turn even the strangest disruptions into steppingstones for personal and professional growth.
We’re coaching individuals, groups, and now businesses.
To see if you or your group is a fit with us, go to:
Once you’re there, you’ll find a link to book a discovery call, or you can take the plunge and start right away.
As always,
Brian
