WHERE'S THAT LINE?

One of the most marvelous inventions for men has been the television. Images take the guesswork out of who did what, and how one looks years later, etc. But among the neatest inventions on television is the yellow line that is used to mark for us the First Down spot on the football playing field. Now we don’t have to guess how far the ball must travel to be counted as a First Down. For you folks that don’t know or understand football, the first down is like the Community Chest card that lets you move four more spaces without having to pay huge amounts of money, unless of course you own the football team, then you’re paying by the minute, by the yard for some very highly priced players. Truth be told, you’re also making tons of money by the second, especially if you broadcast your games to a limited audience on a monopoly style NFL Network. But that’s another story. Then again if you’re an owner (think Jerry Jones) you’ve spent a ton on money on a facelift which makes it hard to smile even while you’re making a ton of dough. But that’s another story. And you’re probably making plans to have yourself frozen once you die in the hopes that you can be an unfrozen Popsicle and back to a frozen living robot. But that’s another story. Maybe a baseball story.

At one game I attended in person I overheard two ladies ask, “Where’s that yellow line we see on tv?” Indeed. Where is that line in person? Why don’t we get a line that helps us know when we’re dangerously close to crossing it in terms of hurting someone’s feelings or getting ourselves in legal trouble. A few years ago there was an article in Newsweek about that line and how it gets shifted over slightly through the years to allow for things that weren’t allowed before. One of the examples they gave was the changing of attitudes towards Las Vegas. At one time “sin city” was seen as a place only for businessmen on trips; later for adults, then in a smart move the powers that be in Vegas changed the atmosphere and made it a place for families. While it may make for a great vacation that line has shifted and Vegas would love for one day your grown up kids to come back, enjoy the shows, the food, and of course, leave a ton of money in their machines or on their tables.

This is a message about who we are as Rotarians and the line that guides us. We can sum it up in terms of our Four Way Test. As we apply each of those principles to our lives, the line stays clear and we stay right where we need to be.

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

There’s our line!