THE OPEN ROAD

LET IT BE KNOWN

6/8/2021

LET IT BE KNOWN:

We believe America to be the greatest country on earth.
We do not support the evil persons who are seeking to
destroy this nation.
We wholeheartedly support the police forces who strive
to keep the peace throughout our land.
We believe there are dozens of Congressional officials who,
because of their greed and desire for dictatorial power,
need to be kicked out of office.
We believe the vast majority of Americans are a kind,
charitable, hard working, law abiding people.
We believe the U.S. Constitution with its amendments
offer more freedoms and liberty to its citizens than
any other documents on earth.
We believe in the rule of law and due process.
We believe mob rule to be basically evil.
We believe America with all its freedoms should be
defended against all its enemies, foreign or domestic.

Bill Morgan
June 8, 2021
The Open Road
(morgan1938@gmail.com)

AMERICA (Thought One)

6/8/2021

     AMERICA (Thought One)

  A is for our avenues of adventure,
                                                               and the open roads of creativity
                                                          M is for the many who have fought
                                                               and died that we might live and enjoy
                                                               the freedom and beauty of this land
E is for the energy and enthusiasm
                                                               of an optimistic people
R is for our religious heritage,
                                                               the foundation of our freedoms
I is for the independence of
                                                              body, mind and spirit
                                                             guaranteed by constitutional law
C is for the chance to change
                                                              and to be, and to become
                                                              what we will
A is for the affection we feel
toward the country we love

                                                               We can "taste" America...
                                                              and it is grand

(Written on June 8, 1975)

HIS POINT 634

6/8/2021

HIS POINT 634

"The dice of God," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson,
"are always loaded."

To further explain this metaphor, Mr. Emerson
continued..."The world looks like a mathematical
equation, which, turn it how you will, balances itself."

"Take what figure you will, its exact value still
returns to you. Every secret is told, every crime
is punished, every virtue rewarded."

We suspect Mr. Emerson is trying to tell us that
"God always makes His point." Nothing good, nor
nothing bad, is ever hidden from the eyes of the Lord.

And, we would be the most wretched of men if we did
not have the faith and the hope that the dice of God
have been loaded with the grace and the mercy of Christ.

(First published on June 14, 1979)

THE WEATHER MAN (1975)

6/8/2021

THE WEATHER MAN (1975)

                            It was Tammy's (nearly 8) turn to choose
                            the cereal box for the month.
                            She chose a box with a mounted policeman
                            inside, who turned...
                            Pink in rainy weather
                            Blue in clear weather
                            Gray in changing weather.

                            Maybe some senseless husband-wife arguments
                            could be avoided if we could wear "Weather Mounties"
                            around our necks to indicate our emotional "Whether"
                            at any particular time. For example...

                            Red, meaning "Hot, really hot"---"it is very unwise
                             to communicate with me right now."
                           Gray, meaning "Watch it kid, watch it, I'm in an
                             unsettled mood, go ahead and talk, but be careful."
                             Blue, meaning "Cool, man, cool." ---"Go ahead and say
                             anything you want, I am ready and willing to listen
                             empathetically to anything you have to say."

                             This "Whether" warning system might prevent the
                             fruitless communications and the frustrating battles
                             which often ensue.
                             It would let my wife know whether to wear:
                             Glass Slippers
                             Loafers, or Hip Boots.
                             How's the weather at your house, today?

ARRIVING HOME

5/21/2021

   ARRIVING HOME

Arriving home I saunter
Through the kitchen
Toward the back yard
Birds chirping dogs barking
Feeling the joy of living
In this home twenty-five years
And continuing counting
Days of happiness and joy
Quickly Gone by into our past

We hear the soft pelting rain Splashing moonbeams near and far
Enjoying the hushed serene silence
Contemplating God's mercies as they are
Sweet and tender always on time
Proving once again His care and concern
We hear the crackling thunder close bye
Urging us to put away our slothfulness
O get to work that My word may be heard

  (First stanza written on May 21, 2021.
Second stanza written  on June 3, 2021)

SHARE YOUR WEALTH 192

5/17/2021

    SHARE YOUR WEALTH 192

"Share your wealth," wrote Wilfred A.
                                     Peterson. "The greatest wealth of all
                                     is the wealth of yourself."

                                     What do I have to offer the world today?
                                     A worn old body that hourly continues
                                     To turn into clay.

                                     What do I have to offer the world today?
                                     No great talents, but say...
                                     We'll light a candle or two
                                     For a stranger or two
                                     With kind words and a wide grin
                                     we make a new friend

                                     What do I have to offer the world today?
                                     When things go wrong?
                                     An encouraging word
                                     A heart filled with song
                                     A friendly handshake
                                    And peaceful thoughts
                                     As we travel along
                                    The open road
                                    Together

THE CRITICAL HOUR

5/17/2021

THE CRITICAL HOUR

"One of the illusions of life," wrote
Emerson, "is that the present hour
is not the critical decisive hour."

Every person's destiny is forged and
tempered...in the crucible of the present
hour.

In the next sixty minutes, opportunities
will arise...

For kind words. What will we say?
For elevated thoughts. On what shall
we ponder?
For decisive actions. What consequences
do we envision?

Spend wisely, thy witness, oh man,
for thy eternity unfolds itself...
one hour at a time.

TENNIS ANYONE?

5/16/2021

TENNIS ANYONE?

Marriage, like tennis, is more pleasant
                                when played with an amicable, conscientious
                                partner. For an enjoyable match, you just
                                can't beat a good doubles team.

                                 Unfortunately, some games get off on a bad
foot because one of the players may have
picked up a bad racquet in their pre-marital days,
perhaps a racquet that was strung too loose,
or too tight.

                                And, many partnerships falter because one
                                or both partners desire to remain at some
                               some previously attained score. However,
you really can't do that and be a successful team.

                               After all, "love 15" is just not the same as "love 30."
                               And, "love 30" is not the same as  "love 40."

                             The game must go on...Indeed, it does go on.
We  either have to finish the game, or forfeit.
   (Which oft times comes with dire consequences).

                               To our way of thinking, its much to our advantage
                               to play out the game with determination, with finesse,
                               and, with love.

                               Well now...your serve.

(First published on 5.17.2013, with revisions made
on 5.17.2021.)

I THINK THEREFORE I AM--RENE DESCARTES

5/10/2021

I THINK THEREFORE I AM--RENE DESCARTES
I AM THEREFORE I THINK--BILL MORGAN--5.10.2021

OUR MOTHERS (1978)

5/9/2021

   OUR MOTHERS (1978)

   In the struggles and the strife
The vicissitudes of life
Our mothers are always there

Every cloudburst filled with rain
In sorrow and in pain
Our mothers are always there

In our triumphs and our wins
Light laughter and coquettish grins
   Our mothers are always there

At dawn with each new sunrise
At bedtime with no surprise
Our mothers are always there

Tucking us in with a goodnight kiss
Ending our day with a note of bless
Our mothers are always there

With days of child's play now long gone
Memories of delightful times continue on
Our mothers are always there

Now these lines are but a token
Of our love that goes unspoken
To our mothers who are always there

(First published on May 14 1978)