Last Saturday after a busy day at work, I decided around 6:00 p.m. to go to Sunken Meadow State Park for a walk along the boardwalk. I set a goal in 2019 to try my best to get exercise, whether it be going to the gym, going for a walk or using my Simply Fit board. I have great memories at Sunken Meadow State Park. I worked there during the summers of 1982-1984. I had a very glorious job. I was a garbage man! There was one fringe benefit! Working outside, I got an amazing tan (although it was a truck driver tan but I didn't care).
Like I said I have so many great memories from my three summers at Sunken Meadow. While walking down the boardwalk last Saturday, my mind drifted back to something that took place in1984. It was a situation that the park management had trouble controlling. I'll call it the Jetty problem. There was a constant problem where people would climb out onto the jetty and either go fishing or just hang out. One of our workers went over to that area and yelled "Hey, get off the jetty!" If I remember correctly, I think one person yelled back "What's a Jetty?" He then yelled "Then get off the rocks!" He was totally ignored. There was a sign posted that said "Keep off the Jetty" that was also ignored. The Park management then posted a sign underneath the other sign that read "Keep off the rocks!" Understanding that there were many Spanish speaking people using the park, they even posted a sign in Spanish that said "Keep off the rocks." All three of these signs posted were ignored. Around 1993, I spoke at the Smithtown Christian School Elementary Chapel and did a message on following the rules. I brought my 35mm camera to Sunken Meadow and with slide film in the camera I took pictures of the jetty. Sure enough, there were people out on the rocks fishing. Again, the sign was ignored. Now fast forward 26 years later to last Saturday. While walking down the boardwalk, I saw a group of about six men carrying buckets and fishing gear to the beach. Sure enough, they were headed to the jetty and, you guessed it, they all went out on the jetty, ignoring the sign.
In my 55 years on this planet, I can't believe how many people ignore the rules that are put in place. I have seen it at the workplace, at school and certainly on the highways and byways. People ignore the rules or "signs" right in front of them because of entitlement or honestly, they don't feel any rules apply to them. How many times have you seen someone weaving in and out of traffic going maybe 70 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. Last week trying to make a left at exit 53 onto the Long Island Expressway (or as I call it the "Distressway) while I was the 3rd in line waiting for the green arrow, a nimrod decided to pass all of us, cut in front of the car ahead of my lane and made a left while the light was red. Where were the Police?
I am certainly not saying I am perfect. We have all broken the rules one time or another in our lifetime. We have all climbed out onto the jetty hoping to catch fish and have ignored the sign that says "Keep off the rocks." I hope and pray that no one has ever gotten hurt on that jetty. I do know that the State of New York's Parks Department did put that sign out in case someone may have had an accident and wanted to sue the state. This reminds me of the Bible and the 10 Commandments. Notice they are NOT the 10 Suggestions. These are 10 things God commands us to follow. Back in the Old Testament, there were so many instances when man decided he didn't need God so he created his own idol or image. He decided he wanted to make up his own rules. In the end, he failed and, of course, in the end only His rules mattered.
Can you imagine if for one day, let's say we could make it July 1st, that for that entire day we followed the rules! We could have an alarm go off in our cars when we drove one mile past the speed limit. Or we would all wear bracelets that had alarms and any time during the day we ignored a sign or broke a rule at our workplace, an alarm would go off. In my opinion, you would hear many alarms in a 24 hour span.
It amazes me today how many millenials I have worked with who try so hard to "beat the system" instead of following the rules. Truthfully, it's not just the millenials but everyone. My challenge to all of us is simple. Let's read the "signs" and follow the rules. It would certainly make this world a better place for sure!
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!
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