Blog Archives

WHAT'S AFOOT?

6/27/2021

WHAT'S AFOOT?

A few years ago, we underwent minor
surgery on our right foot, which caused
us to reread and better appreciate the
scripture, "If the foot says, 'I am not a
part of the body because I am not a hand,'
that does not make it any less of a part
of the body." (My paraphrase of First
Corinthians 12:21.)

Obviously, we never miss a foot until we
need one.

An old proverbial question keeps running
through our mind..."What mischief's afoot?'"

And E.E. Cummings pegged us well when he
penned..."The sweet small clumsy feet of April
came into the ragged meadow of my soul."

Shakespeare's advice struck a responsive
cord within us..."The game's afoot: Follow
your spirit." (King Henry V Act 3. Scene1).
Sherlock Holmes picked up on that one.

Parenthetically, our spirit gained much from
this experience.

With faith in Him who watcheth o'er
our every footstep,
we envision that day when our souls
shall truly be footloose and fancy free

LOVE IS...

6/27/2021

   LOVE IS...
   Patient
Kind
Not envious
Not boastful
Not arrogant
Not rude
Does not insist on its own way
Not irritable
Not resentful
Does not rejoice in wrong doing
But rejoices in the truth
Bares all things
Hopes all things
Endures all things
Doesn't ever end

   1st Corinthians 13:4-8
(New Revised Standard Version
Catholic Edition)

FATHER'S DAY (1979)

6/18/2021

FATHER'S DAY (1979)

When I was but a little boy
I had a hero true
It shouldn't be hard to figure out
That hero, Dad, was you

I remember all the ball games
You use to take us to
And Sunday rides down country lanes
Mid the dusty twilight hues

Now, Checkers were your forte' pop
In dats gone by, you were the best
Until your grandchildren came along
And laid your soul to rest

I've always liked your sense of humor
In a world gone seriously mad
I've always enjoyed seeing you laugh Ever since I was a lad

With just another word or two
I'd simply like to say I'm glad
Of all the gentle men on Earth
You were chosen as my Dad

STAY COOL 652

6/15/2021

STAY COOL 652

Hot weather just does not bring out the best
in some us. It decreases our patience and increases
our temper flare-ups. Sound familiar? Perhaps
that's the way it is, occasionally, in your home
as well as ours.

Perhaps God permits us to have a season of
hot weather to allow us to increase our perception
of our inability to "stay cool" on our own.

And, He also uses this hot humid weather
to persuade us, once again, that indeed, we can do
nothing spiritually important without the Spirit's help.

O Lord, for many of us, summer is the season
we need You most of all. Help us to stay cool
this summer, we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

(First published on August 2, 1979)

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?