MORGAN'S MOMENT...
A guy was lighting a cigarette
    outside a restaurant as I walked by.
I usually hold my breath
    and hurry on without thought.
Anger rose in my consciousness
    and I came near speaking to him.
I ran through a number of thoughts
    as I approached.
Wisdom got the best of me
    and I kept quiet and kept walking.
As I went by I realized
    he was younger than me and bigger!
I knew why I was angry
    and it wasn't because of this man.
My brother-in-law was in the hospital
    just across the street.
His lungs were beyond breathing
    only machines kept him alive.
He had quit smoking years ago
    but irreversible damage was done.
How could anyone forfeit precious breath
    for a cigarette?
I stopped watching that man suck smoke
    to watch my brother-in-law gasp for air.
I was angry about both scenes
    adding to my list of things I can’t fix.
— Art Morgan 

BOOK CORNER
Time for some of Jean's books ─
“French Women for All Seasons: A year of Secrets, Recipes and Pleasure” M. Guiliano
“Order from Chaos,” Liz Davenport
“The Emotional House: How Reorganizing Your Home Can Change your life.” K. Robin
“Refuse to Choose,” Barb Sher
“Cesar's Way,” Cesar Millan
“Garlic and Saphires,” Ruth Riechl
“The Cat Who had 60 Whiskers,” L. Braun
“Summer at Fairacre,” Miss Read
“Farewell to Fairacre,” Miss Read
“Come and Go,” Manning Coles
“Anyone But You,” Jennifer Crusie
“What the Lady Wants,” Jennifer Crusie
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MOMENT MINISTRIES
March 6, 2007
home address:  25921 SW Airport Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at a-morgan@peak.org
CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE
Writing sometimes seems like a one way conversation in which I do all the talking. It’s not exactly that way because I do get email responses that keep the conversation alive and stir more thinking in me. I like that. I thought whether I could pass on some of these comments.
An interesting thought on breathing from Don Payne: “My observation is that you can do without breath for about three minutes. You can do without water for about three days. You can do without food for about three weeks. So, in the matter of relative importance, breathing wins hands down.”
Bill Fellinger comments on “mindful breathing,” reminding us that “Thich Nhat Hanh has probably written more on this subject than anyone.” That is probably true. I would like to add an interesting resource from “The Spell of the Sensuous,” by David Abram, especially the chapter on “The Forgetting and Remembering of the Air.” Deep and good thoughts from the Navajo and others.
Bill also adds a book by Pema Chodron, “When Things Fall Apart.” “Pay particular attention to her chapter on Tonglen, a technique that connects the breath with intentional thought to help oneself and others.”
Several have commented on the two Sam Harris books I mentioned, “The End of Faith,” and “Letter to a Christian Nation.” Among them have been Teddy Turner, Tom Baylis and Bill Fellinger. I think there were also some others. Bill says, “Sam Harris is, I believe, on a productive trajectory to help ‘religious’ people get rid of their damaging practices…” You’ll have to read the book to understand what he means. He continues with a challenge to me and other clergy, saying: “It seems essential for someone in your line of work to read Harris and state your opinion of his positions. Clearly, the tensions between the three Abrahamic religions today threaten all of humanity…”
For any who might be interested I do have a brief write up of my thoughts on the Sam Harris’ “End of Faith” which I would be happy to attach to an email.
An intriguing quotation, forwarded by Pat Nease, invites dialogue on the proposition, which is this: “One of the indictments of civilization is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person.” (William Feather, 1889 – 1981)  What do you think?
An informative note from Doug Smith, Development Associate with Church World Service responds to my page on charitable giving. I spoke about the numerous causes we support and those that keep adding to our appeal list. He offers good advice on how to get off or keep of unwanted lists and the wisdom of whittling down lists as we grow older.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
No blue sheet for a few weeks. We will be sending our email Travel Report to those interested. We check our email when on the road, so we're in touch along the way. We're looking forward to a trip with a happier ending than the last. You'll get a report in the next blue sheet.

 
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A TOAST TO DICK
       Well, it didn't turn out as we hoped. We left Dick still sedated and breathing with help of a ventilator, but were called back to Longview, Washington from Moab, Utah. He was not doing well. As our watching and waiting days slowly passed, it became increasingly clear to each of his family that he was dying.
       So it is that on Saturday, March 3 at 3:20 Jean's brother breathed his last.
       This was pretty much a family directed event. They were close to each other and didn't want others intruding except the wonderful nurses and the doctor. Toward the end they accepted the presence of the hospital chaplain and their pastor.
       They had some hard decisions to make about allowing Dick to leave this world on his own without being connected to hospital technology. You get three strong minded boys and their sister who loved their dad and you don't come to such final decisions without a thorough airing. Their mom knew them well and stood back, allowing a good decision to emerge with the whole family on the same page. They signaled the nurse to let Dick go.
       We all gathered at the family home that evening. Leftover pizza from a couple of nights before and some spaghetti from the previous night, plus some samples of their dad's bourbon, appeared. Dick's children rented a wild “cage fight” video that was designed as therapy for pent up anger and frustration. It’s not suggested in any of the grief therapy books I've read, but I have to admit that it seemed to work just fine.
       There had been talk about what kind of “service” might be done for Dick. For one thing, we had memories of what Dick has said for himself. No formal service, period. Parties, maybe. Celebration of full life for sure.
       My contribution to that night was a bottle of champagne. I stepped in front of the 52 inch screen of the fight they had paid to watch and proposed a toast to Dick. I was impressed that they gave their ancient uncle such attention.
       I called their attention to the seemingly endless rising bubbles in their glass. My thought was that the bubbles represent all the influence that goes out from our lives that we don't even know about. Words, actions, thoughts, example. There is no way of knowing how much of Dick's life is remembered in many ways that we don't know about. I reminded them that we are not the only ones who are remembering Dick. As news spreads of his dying, all sorts of thoughts and stories and memories are going to rise like these bubbles in cities and states from Texas to Alaska. I bribed the four children with a small gift to go back home and put on a party for their families and friends who know about Dick's death and tell some memories of his life. So we toasted Dick's life that is alive in ways beyond our knowing. Glasses clicked and every eye was moist.
       The fight on TV was resuming. I knew when to quit.
       We drove home this afternoon (Sunday). Our daughter, Linda, had already read the email urging a “toasting gathering,” and had set one up in our own home. So we did as I had urged others to do. We got out photos of Dick, shared some of our memories, let some friends who never knew Dick learn who he was to us, and toasted Dick.
       I am sure that there are many ways to celebrate and cherish the memory of one whose life among us has ended. Some find meaning and comfort in the ancient traditions of music and scripture. Others do not. Some find solace in solitude, others in the midst of friends who share strength. Tonight, and on some nights to come, many will be toasting Dick. I must admit that I feel some communion with many of his friends I never knew as well as with others far away who would never be able to attend a service.
       Preachers never mention it, but the core ceremony in Christianity is a memorial “toast.” The cup of wine is lifted in memory.
I invite any who are so moved to lift a glass of whatever pleases you to Jean's brother, Dick. He'd be mighty pleased.
─ Art Morgan, March 6, 2007