MORGAN'S MOMENT...
“Wow! Sounds like you need a get-away…
        listen to nothing.”
“Sounds like you have issues
        with liars, cheats, thieves
        and political idiots and unsavories.”
“You should be a journalist!”
“Do you share your opinions
        with your elected representatives?”
“The cabin, like cathedrals of old
        provides sanctuary…
        but not if you persist in listening
        to the news every morning.
        Shoot your radio
        and listen to the birds.”
Just a sample of responses from good friends
        to my e-mail “Winter Escape and Diatribe”
        about news of the day.
So like ancient holy ones I went to the desert…
        at least to our cabin on Puget Sound
        and meditated on the counsel of friends.
The tide comes in and the tide goes out…
        the wind blows where it will…
       the fire warms the stove and the stew.
I turn off the radio and listen to the birds…
        crowing their raucous complaints…
        maintaining their own justice.
Who withdraws from the world
        without question or outrage
        allows what is to be.
— Art Morgan 
AVAILABLE STUFF
We still have a few copies of “It Is The Way of Grandparents” (some “Moments” about the birth of Jesus from the view of his grandparents), and “Christmas Eve Prayers From the Old World Deli and Pub.” Ask and you shall receive.
The web page has a book commentary on “The Terrorism Reader,” edited by David J. Whitaker. The book is about the many terrorist organizations operating in the world and the nations that support them. It is a sobering book that supports George W. Bush’s position that the war against terrorism is unlike any other war and will not end soon.
MOMENT MINISTRIES
January 21, 2002
home address:  25921 SW Airport Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at  a-morgan@peak.org
JANUARY 24, 2002
THURSDAY MOMENT
POTLUCK
From time to time—at least once a month—we gather local friends and moment sympathizers for catch-up, fellowship, and a bit of inspiration. 
Good food, good talk, good singing
Gathering from 6
Eat at 6:30
 
REPORT FROM ANTARCTICA
As reported earlier, Karen’s husband, Lynn, has been in Antarctica for several months providing support for a group of scientists.
He was dropped off at Byrd Camp to put together machinery that hauled equipment and people across the ice to drill 3 and 4-inch cores at various points for over 100 miles.
The ice cores will be used by scientists to measure effects from man-caused activities, such as nuclear testing in the ‘50s. 
Lynn just reported that they had been lifted off the ice and were back at McMurdo, soon to head for New Zealand, then home. 
We will try to arrange a gathering with Lynn to get a first hand report about his adventures and about what scientists believe humans are doing to effect the natural world.
We have kept a world globe up side down as a reminder of Lynn’s location. It will be good to turn the world “right side” up again.  Max, Kyle, Lauren, and Karen think so too.
EXPERIENCING GOD
“Belief is highly over-rated as part of religious life. In fact, the more intense the belief the less room for a spirit of openness and trust.”
  

(back page)

 
THE TIN CAN COMMITTEE
        I hate it when old guys bring up old times to talk about new times. Can’t be helped.
        Here we are all involved in a war with another country most folks never suspected even existed six months ago. Actually it’s not a “war” with Afghanistan, but we still call it a “war.” A “war” is anything that allows the use of our stored up military weapons and makes an increase in military spending acceptable.
        The President asks us to prepare for sacrifices. Expect some lives to be lost. Expect some usual liberties to be temporarily suspended. Expect for a long-term disruption of “normal.”
        I’m still waiting.
        “For what?” you ask.
        I’m waiting for sacrifices expected of us.
        You see, when we went to war against the Japanese and Germans and Italians during WWII, we made sacrifices.
        We grew “victory gardens.” More than half of all vegetables consumed during that war were grown at home. Our back yard, our front yard and our parking strip were filled with vegetable gardens. 
        We kids would go out looking for old tires and scrap metal. On Saturdays of collection day everyone took scrap metal to the corner to be picked up. We wrapped tin foil into balls for collection.
        And we saved tin cans. That’s where I played my big role. I was Chairman of the Tin Can Committee at our school. We had a designated area out behind the auditorium where flattened tin cans were collected. My job was to keep the place orderly. People were generous with their tin cans.
        Those who had cars could only drive 35 miles an hour. That was to conserve both rubber and gas—if you had gas. Gas, of course was rationed. You could have what you could absolutely prove that you needed. That was it. 
        We had ration books for gas and sugar and meat, as I remember. Everyone sacrificed something for the war effort. At least that was what was expected. I’m sure many found ways to cheat, as folks always do. 
        Of course there were air raid drills, mandatory black outs, storing of sand and water in the attic in case of an incendiary bombing attack. 
        So, I wonder, where’s the sacrifice today? You know, don’t you, that our politicians won’t require better gas mileage out of SUV’s and Pick-ups because industry opposes it? You know, of course, that that one act alone would preclude need for extra oil drilling? 
        And you know, of course, that Saudi Arabia funds and supplies more terrorists than Afghanistan. And that Saudi Arabia has more suppression of women and other human rights than any of the Arab nations. And aren’t you somewhat suspicious that it is not good politics to stand up against the Saudi’s because of our dependence on unlimited supplies of oil? Would we want to sacrifice some oil consumption for sake of justice? Wouldn’t it be prudent to conserve oil just in case the Saudi’s kick us out?
        I’m starting to sound like Joseph in the Old Testament, who played the fool and warned Egypt to conserve during a time of abundance for a future time of shortage. (That’s a true story—at least it’s in the Bible).
        So when the President asks for sacrifice, I’m ready and waiting…and waiting… But I guess I just don’t get it. I’m still remembering the Tin Can Committee.
— Art Morgan, January 2002