MORGAN'S MOMENT
     The Dalai Lama was here…
         right on our beach
         a few years ago.
     He was someone’s guest
         and found what we find…
         a bit of respite for the soul.
     He saw our mountains…
          a whole range full…
          all very different.
     We wouldn’t want them
          all alike even though
          each is spectacular.
     He thinks the same about
          our various religions
          in the world.
     Better he thinks 
          not to think it better
          to have all the same.
     I don’t know where
          he got that idea
          or when.
     But he could have got it
          that summer day
          walking on our beach.
- Art Morgan
AUGUST FADES
     Here on Puget Sound the sunsets are moving southward down the Olympic peaks. As much as we attempt to “be in the moment,” we can’t help but be aware that summer we so long waited is now on it’s way south.
     Daily e-mail reports tell of students and teachers focused on preparing for school. Grandchildren report football, basketball, band and cross country practice already under way. 
     Church papers from colleagues find their way to the cabin. They are full of fall plans, of urgings to the faithful to reappear. Fall institutional anxiety. If churches experience resurrection it has to be in the fall.
     We are still doing – having – encouraging “moments.” There are people to write, try to see. There are books waiting. There is my February paper asking to be finished. And the sailboat begs for a few more trips. Where did summer go? Or, as some have said, did it ever come?
SUMMER BLUE SHEET
7nd Edition - Sept. 1, 1999
MOMENT MINISTRIES
Summer Address:  2412 N Herron Road
Lakebay WA 98359   253-884-2771

a-morgan@peak.org

THE DALAI LAMA SAYS

     “There are 5 billion human beings and in a certain way I think we need five billion different religions, because there is such a large variety of dispositions…I think we can learn to celebrate that diversity of religions.”
(The Art of Happiness,
The Dalai Lama, p. 294)

 

SUMMER MOMENTS
     Check our Web Page for “Summer Moments” and find photos of some of the events and people at our camp during the early part of the summer. Other photos will be added as developed.
     Bill has also added some Back Pages and other material to the page. We appreciate.
     Paul and Mary Pritchard were in camp over his birthdays. A rare non-wedding weekend for him. Jodie and Alan Pastre and son, Anthony, as well as Jeanne and Rob Mommsen (the Winemaker) and son Erik, as well as their two little daughters, Hannah and Geneva joined them. 
     Former secretary from our LA days, Betty Hixson was here 2 nights. We look for Linda with Andrew and Grace and maybe Max for a final summer visit. Nancy Hathaway and husband, Greg, and Barbara Ross and husband, Joe will share Labor Day Weekend moments. We hope to work in a contact with former Corvallis colleague Art Wilmot and Heather as well.
     This leaves out adventures with beach neighbors. We’ll report another time.      - Art
 

the back page

ON BEING PERFECT
        It seems that one day near the end of the school year the school was handing out awards to honor student achievement. This was not one of those "make everyone feel good" kind of events, but an honest-to-goodness achievement honoring program.
        My grandson, Max, perfect in every way in his grandparent's eyes, is a student in that school. He is finishing his first year in Kindergarten. Even we admit that he is an "enthusiastic" student. He knows the way to the principal's office. But he's exceptionally bright, we think.
        On the day of the awards Max was present. Like I say, he's pretty bright. He saw awards being handed out. There was never a handout Max didn't want. Names were called from various classes. Only a few from each class.
        Max began to realize that his name had not been called. When the event was over, Max asked his teacher: 
        "Aren't I perfect at anything?"
        When I heard that, I wanted to rush to the phone and call Max and name all the things at which he was perfect.
        I thought for a while. I wanted make a list. I thought of all the great things he can do. Snowboard, ride a bike, climb, catch a fish, ask "Why, Grandpa?" He can stack blocks, run fast, throw a ball, count a ways and recognize colors. I don't think he gets credit for those things at school. 
        Sitting still isn't one of his best sports. Long term attention isn't as good as his long-term memory. 
I hated to think the thought, but I couldn't think of anything Max was perfect at — not anything. It didn't take me long to realize that I couldn't think of anything anyone was perfect at.
        The Bible lays the idea of being perfect upon us. One place, after Jesus has put out some teachings such as loving enemies and praying for persecutors he says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." That's a heavy expectation.
        In the story of the "Rich Young Ruler," who was anxious to receive a perfection award and didn't get it ("Aren't I perfect in anything?"), asked what he must do to get an award. Jesus said that if he was to be perfect he had to sell all his possessions and give to the poor.
        A bit much, he thought sorrowfully.
        All this notion that we have to be perfect runs contrary to my understanding of the Gospel. The thing that appealed to me about the Gospel (when I first had interest in it) was that we are of value even when we are not perfect. In fact, no one is perfect. Jesus is my man when someone called him "Good," and he answered "Why do you call me good? Only my Father in heaven is good." A little bit of imperfection didn't seem to worry Jesus. (Some of us have even had doubts about whether God is as good as they/he/she/it is cut out to be). The good news is that even though you're not perfect—and never will be—you are worthy of love. Amazing grace, as they say.
        I decided that the only thing Max needs to be perfect at is being Max. He's the only one who can do that, and he does it perfectly.
        Subsequently, perhaps after being softened by Max's heart-rending question, the Kindergarten teacher had her own awards ceremony. This time around Max came home with some awards. His awards were for running laps, knowing all his capitals, and tying his shoes. 
        That's my Max. An award-winning kid. He's not quite perfect at everything, but he's all right!
— Art Morgan, Summer 1999