WASTED TIME

"THERE IS AN HOUR WHEREIN A MAN MIGHT BE HAPPY ALL HIS LIFE COULD HE FIND IT," SAID GEORGE HERBERT EARLY IN THE 17TH CENTURY. IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT THE ONE HOUR, (ACTUALLY TWO), THAT I WASTED WATCHING A MOVIE FROM LATE NITE TELEVISION. I KID YOU NOT, THERE WERE 9 OR 10 COMMERCIALS EVERY 5 OR 10 MINUTES (ONCE AFTER 15). MODERN TECHNOLOGY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL GETS THE CREDIT FOR SAVING MY SANITY. THE INSANITY OF THE MOVIE JUST ADDS INSULT TO INJURY. A COMMERCIAL FOR AN AUTOMATIC SHOWERHEAD WAS E PLURIBUS UNUM OF USELESS, CONSUMER DRIVEN PRODUCTS. FAST FORWARD TO THE DAYLIGHT PORTION OF A RECENT 24 HOUR PERIOD. WHAT I HEARD ABOUT MODERN LIVING FARES NO BETTER. A LOCAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL WILL SPORT A NEW 'LUNCHROOM' IN THE STYLE OF A FOOD COURT. COMPUTERS HAVE REPLACED OVERHEAD PROJECTORS AS THE MEDIUM FOR TEACHERS TO 'COP OUT' OF TEACHING A CLASS AND JUST BABYSIT IT.

THE HAPPY HOUR WHEREIN HAPPINESS IS FOUND IS METAPHORICAL, OF COURSE, BUT SEARCHING FOR IT THROUGH LOVE, REVERIE OR BETWEEN THE PAGES OF A BOOK IS ALL BUT LOST. LOOKING FOR IT IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES CAUSES NO END TO THE TROUBLES OF YOUTH. WHEN JESUS SAID, "SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND," HE FORGOT TO HAND OUT A MAGICAL, MAGELLAN ROAD MAP TO HAPPINESS, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE INFERRED AN INTERNAL RATHER THAN AND EXTERNAL SEARCH. SO MUCH TIME IS WASTED TODAY BECAUSE WHAT IS "ESSENTIAL IS INVISIBLE TO THE EYE." SO SAYS THE LITTLE PRINCE IN SAINT- EXUPERY'S TALE.