KISS Makes Sense, Doesn’t It?

For the regular couple of dozen who read these scribbles (what can I say – it’s grown from eight or nine; like the kids say, I’m blowing out . . . or trendifying . . . or something like that), you may recall that I tend to like messages from a pastor named Allen Jackson (no, he’s not the country singer, although I like him, too).

Recently he had a message about keeping things simple. He talked about the lessons learned from Robert Fulghum’s wonderful book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” And he related that to keeping things simple with our faith.

It got me to thinking.

A lot of us yearn for a simpler time. Younger folks say “sure, Boomer,” and dismiss it as old folks reminiscing.

But are we?

Really?

Crime rates back then were better. We all remember when doors were left unlocked, children played freely and neighbors looked out for one another.

Lawyers and politicians make things more complicated because of $$$. Social media has allowed a level of hatred and vitriol to seep into this country like nothing we have seen before – and that’s saying something. Politics divides us, but so do a lot of things – many of which don’t amount to a hill of beans. We’re at a point where if someone says grass is green there’s a crowd lining up to say no it’s not.

Gone – perhaps lost – are the simple things. One of my favorite columnists says he takes a walk outdoors and offers the idea it might help a lot of us.

I agree. Sure, it’s a little different for everyone but let’s not forget what life is about. It’s most certainly not one big beautiful bill, AOC, New York mayor candidates, conflicts and fights.

Let’s be clear, and newspaper columnist Franklin Pierce Adams, pointed it out so well: “Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.” Fair enough. But there is little doubt that simpler is often better.

Life used to be about faith, family, country. It used to be about the little things that went into all three.

Pet your dog. Or cat. Call your grandchildren. Remember Daddy-Daughter Days? Mother-Son Dances? Do it again. Remember shoveling your neighbors walk after the snow? Remember when a random act of kindness wasn’t something shared on social media but just the right thing to do? Remember when children were expected to behave in public and respect their elders? Remember when all a kid needed was their imagination and nothing that included a cord and charger?

Simplicity. Basics. Kindness. Grace.

We could all use a little more.

Two cents, which is about how much Timmons said his columns are worth, appears periodically in The Times. Timmons is the chief executive officer of Sagamore News Media, the company that owns The Noblesville Times. He is also a proud Noblesville High School graduate and can be contacted at ttimmons@thetimes24-7.com.