Conversations with My Father

What is fear? Is it based on clear and evident danger or simply some insecurity that one has failed to overcome? Fear can lurk in the shadows or walk beside a person along the pathway to his or her destiny. The feeling of fear at some point in one's life is probable but one must learn not to surrender to it. Overall, as Susan Jeffers once said, "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Please join my father and me in acknowledging our fears and examining how to move forward despite facing uncertainty in Conversations with my Father Session Eight.

1. What is your biggest fear?

D. Lester Morgan: My biggest fear is leaving this earth and not having lived up to my greatest potential. To be granted life is our gift from God and what we become is our gift to God.

A.M. Morgan: My biggest fear is losing focus on what my true God given purpose is. We spend a great deal of our lives chasing dreams and things that will make us happy. I hope I am not too blind to see that what I am searching for is right before my eyes staring at me.

2. If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you want to take along? Think of something besides the obvious such as food, water and people.

D. Lester Morgan: I would want a good book, a good pair of running shoes, and the knowledge of God.

A.M. Morgan: I would want a pen, notebook and pictures of the things that I love.

3. The unfortunately reality in our world is that many people grow up with the absence of a mother or father. How would you describe the importance of having both parents actively present in your life? How do you think you would have been different without having both of your parents in your life?

D. Lester Morgan: Parents are ordained by God. It is their duty to teach and guide. With both parents in my life failure was never an option. I developed from them the tools necessary to survive. To this day, I still reflect on their teaching.

A.M. Morgan: My parents provided me with the unique perspectives of living in this world as a man and as a woman. There are a lot of things that my father taught me that my mother didn't necessarily understand and vice versa. I am grateful for my parents guiding hands throughout my life.

4) What is your favorite bible verse? Why?

D. Lester Morgan: My favorite bible verse is Psalm 23 which begins, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." It has helped me through some difficult times. I said it to the point that I have memorized it.

A.M. Morgan: My favorite bible verse is Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride."

5) You are an excellent runner. What is it about running you enjoy?

D. Lester Morgan: Running is a form of escapism for me. You run on your own volition. Running has given me an incredible immune system. To be this age and not having to take any medication has truly been a blessing.

A.M. Morgan: I am working on being able to run a mile without stopping. For a long time I suffered with shin splints because I was wearing the wrong type of tennis shoe. It's amazing how having the right tools from the very beginning can make a significant difference.

6) What are some moments in your life that you would consider to be character defining?

D. Lester Morgan: College life and military life were character defining for me. Marriage life and fatherhood were character defining. In these days and times everyday is a defining moment.

A.M. Morgan: As I have mentioned before, learning to share my personal space with my first college roommate was an extreme character building experience for me. Two and half years ago, when I quit my full time job because I was unhappy is another defining moment. The year it took me to find a better suiting job and putting my full faith and trust in God has helped shape my resilience.

7) What is it that you see in me that reminds me so much of yourself?

D. Lester Morgan: I think that it is your energetic spirit and your quest for truth as well as your perseverance and self-determination.

A.M. Morgan: Well I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. (Smiles)

8) You always expressed to me the importance of knowing who I am before attempting to share my life with someone else. What have you learned about yourself that has strengthened your relationships? What about yourself has been a challenge for you in your relationships?

D. Lester Morgan: You definitely have to know who you are before you can share your life. I have learned that you get your good feelings from within and you do not need anyone to make you feel good. My challenge has been that I like being by myself at times and I hope that doesn't come across as being selfish.

A.M. Morgan: I am an extremely committed person whether it's in a friendship or serious relationship. I am also a very introspective person like you I enjoy being by myself at times. I process how I feel and think about something before I can communicate it to someone. I am an extroverted person's worst nightmare especially if they are impatient in trying to understand me. For the most part my personality is pretty reserved.

9) Any last words?

D. Lester Morgan: "The race for truth has no finish line."

A.M Morgan: "It's a weakness to try to show yourself to be more than you actually are. To me, it's cooler to hide yourself, even if you're better than that. That's a big difference between Japanese and American cultures. Sometimes, (Americans) try to make themselves out to be bigger than they are." Ichiro Suzuki Courtesy of http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/mariners/2007-05-15-cover-ichiro_N.htm

Thanks for stopping by and reading Conversations with my Father Session Eight. Your comments are greatly appreciated.