BETWEEN THE LINES: Stop, look and listen for a better life

Many times over the years I have recalled the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1970 whimsical hit, "59th Street Bridge Song." The words I remember the best are, “Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last.” For you trivia buffs, the bridge is in Queens, New York City.

The end of the year always marks a time for reflection and an evaluation of one’s life.  This often takes the form of a new year’s resolution, promises we make to ourselves to alter a few of our unproductive habits. Popular vows often include losing weight, exercising more, doing a better job of saving money or more radical ones like changing careers.

I don’t recall anyone saying they plan to sin less in the coming year; maybe because it is too hard to keep score on that one.

It seems to me our adversary is time itself, as there is never enough of it. Our new technological innovations have made life in many ways easier. However, the time they were expected to save has more often than not given us the opposite result.

I believe that result is referred to as unintended consequences. We have been made addicts by the iPod Touch, iPads and smartphones.

For teens especially, text messaging has consumed their lives, often resulting in hundreds of texts being sent daily. In reality, these sophisticated smartphones have not only changed our lives, but have actually taken them over by redirecting our pursuits down a one-way road stifling the variety of diversions we once possessed.

The challenge, therefore, in today’s technology-driven world is to separate ourselves from it. We need to do what the song states by slowing down and observing what is going on around us, and not be so obsessed by our inventions. I am certain that Satan is sitting back admiring the results of his efforts to distract us from the things that matter most, not only taking our thoughts away from God, but from other important aspects in our lives as well.

The weekend before Christmas some relatives from Austin came out for a visit. We took them and their boys Grayson and Bryce out to the newly completed skate park in Marble Falls where they could glide around the concrete man-made contours. I have driven by it countless times, failing to really notice how cool a project it is. After the boys finished skating, we walked down to Lakeside Park to play basketball where my son and daughter joined their uncle and his two boys in a game.

Having had two knee surgeries this past year, I opted out, thus drawing dog duty for their pet and mine. The time afforded me the opportunity to tour the entire park and reflect on the beauty of the Hill Country. A full moon rose in the east, which days later would result in a rare lunar eclipse. Large birds were taking advantage of the breeze to glide effortlessly, rarely having to flap their wings.

I gazed across the lake at the new hotels that have been built to take advantage of the gorgeous view, and observed the beginning construction on our new bridge over Lake Marble Falls. Some boys were playing tennis, while down on the lake fishermen were casting their lines in quest of landing the big one.

Throughout the entire time I was not rushed. The occasion reminded me of my dad, because he never appeared rushed.

As a youngster, I found that annoying because a fishing or hunting trip was often delayed an hour or more as he visited the local farmer, rancher or store owner.  Looking back I should have paid more attention to his actions and have been less critical, for I was the one in error. My dad was interested in people and history.

So my new year’s resolution is to curtail my self-possessed life and pay more attention to others, not just friends and relatives, but people who are hurting and in need of friendship.

In so doing, I will be paying tribute to my deceased father, who quietly taught me there is more to life than just my own agenda.

Laughlin is a Christian Libertarian. He is an economist, teacher, father, husband and most recently a grandfather. He has written a weekly column for The Tribune for 12 years. He and his wife Gina reside in Meadowlakes. To contact him, e-mail ablaughlin@nctv.com. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company.