New gadgets are nice,but stick with the basics

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? They say you can’t, but Cooper and I are really hoping that’s not the case. We are from an era of “simple.”

I remember the days of rolling the windows down in a car manually. When we got those push-button windows, it was wonderful, but it became a constant “no-no” for the kids.

The window lock that only allowed the driver to access the windows helped and then again it doesn’t especially if you’re the adult passenger needing air.

Don’t get me wrong. I am enjoying some of the new-fangled car features. It’s wonderful on a chilly evening or when suffering from an aching back to flip the switch that heats the seats. I tried one of the manual seat warmers you hook to the cigarette lighter, only to have the wire get a tad crispy, so this is nice.

Sometimes the hands-free stuff is a little spooky. The phone rings and scares the mess out of me when I’m just chilling riding down the road. Then there’s navigation with a backup picture screen telling me if I’m going to hit something like a basketball goal. Need I remind you it’s necessary to watch the screen in order for it to be handy?

Now, having said all that, one night after a late baseball game in Wiggins, I realized I had to stop at the store. Coop said, “We need gas, and it’s a nickel cheaper down the road. I’ll drop you off at the door and then go get gas. I’ll call you when I’m back, and you can hop in the car when you’re finished shopping.”

I jumped out and off he went. The shopping was going well when I got his call. He sounded a bit agitated when he told me, “I can’t start the car. I turned it off to put the gas in and now I can’t start the thing. You’ve got the key.”

We were so used to the old way of “you put a key in a car ignition, give it a turn and bam — your’re good to go.”

But this car is keyless. It’s a push-button start. We’ve both had trouble remembering how to turn the car off. I’ve hit the radio button and gone to get out of the car when every alarm in the car goes off.

Seems it’s not only hard to turn this car off, but to turn it on, the key has to be within the proximity of the ignition. Oops! The key was with me. I was a little over a quarter of a mile, and it was a no go.

Coop had to walk to the store, get the key and then trudge back to the car to be able to start it and drive to get me. At that point, I’m just glad he came to get me.

That’ll preach. Life is like a new-fangled car. There are a lot of gadgets making life easier, but when it comes to living, sometimes it’s good to just go back to the basics. This is especially true when it comes to living a life of faith.

Need to get your motor running? Stay in close proximity of the Father.

Scripture says, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

He is the key. Now, go out and simply start your day.

This story was originally published July 3, 2016 at 6:00 AM with the headline "New gadgets are nice,but stick with the basics."