"you don't have to be awesome"

A young fellow who has turned into something of a zazen regular around here arrived on the dot of the time we had agreed to.

I was running a bit behind. Usually, I like to get out to the zendo, fill the water cup, light the candle and incense and be seated by the time others arrive. Not this morning. I was running a bit behind and so I met Nick when he parked and the two of us walked out to the zendo.

"I'm a bit late this morning," I said.

"That's OK, man," he said in his usual convivial tone. "You don't have to be awesome all the time."

It was a light-hearted remark, offered with wry good humor.

But it also struck a chord as a pretty serious Zen teaching:

"You don't have to be awesome."