MORGAN'S MOMENT

"You can do the 'blue news'
     on your web page now."

God (the great Whomever) only knows
     why any Web surfer has time (or interest).

Yet, curiosity and possibility
    drive me to give it a shot.

The Bible has a term—
    "Cast your bread upon the waters."

Who wants soggy bread
    and who wants a Summer Blue Sheet?

We'll be interested in what you think.
    for the Moment…Art Morgan
 

MEMORIAL DAY ON THE BEACH
I have a sweater full of stars and stripes and lots of red, white and blue. I wear it on certain holidays. We don't have a flag. I put it on and grabbed a bottle of champagne and barged in on a couple of neighbors who were having happy hour. They were veterans of WWII, guys who did their time and saw their battles and who deserve some gratitude from those of us who value this land. They saluted my arrival and my champagne (even though it was only André). I reminded them that it was Veteran's Day and that I had come to salute them. With glasses in hands all around (wives were our witnesses) I toasted Veterans present, Veterans past and the memory of all those miles of graves across the world, and the country for which they fought. As far as I know it was the only Memorial Day observance for Veterans anywhere on our beach. A sober moment it was, sanctified with champagne.

PAUL'S LAMENT
"My summer is filling up with weddings. How can I turn them down?" It happens. With me out of town and Jerry leaving, it's up to Paul.
 

READING
Jean is off to a good start. I'm not. I'm finishing Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation," a collection of WWII mini-biographies. It catches the flavor of the post-depression era, the War Years, and the value system that prevailed in the middle of this century.
The other book is one to be read slowly and thoughtfully. It uses poetry as a way to deep insights about living in the corporate world. Anyone who operates (or has operated) in a work or institutional setting will find it meaningful. It is called: "The Heart Aroused – Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America," by David Whyte.

BURD PARTY
We are probably the only "Church" to be co-sponsoring an event with a Winery. Why not? The report is that Jesus did some winemaking himself at a party. We'll be at Bellefountain Winery for a Salmon Barbecue (furnished by the winery) with guests providing the potluck. Moment will also contribute. We're hoping for a crowd.
 

      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!