Art And Artist

At once painter and painted, sculptor
and sculpted, potter and clay
Continually molded and fired we grow
A work of art, artists ourselves
To appreciate and be appreciated
We represent our creator's greatest work
The work of his endless love
Created in his image as art and artist
In all sizes, shapes and colors we come
Each a canvas on which to create
Endless possibilities for each and all
When living from a place of love


Awakened

Awakened it seems I have come
From a long restless sleep
To know all that I know
And yet
To know how much more there is to know
Around each corner

Another door opens as if beckoned from my soul
Then some unknown knowledge
Seems to know how little more I can take
And asks me to rest for a time
To begin at a new pace
At a new time
The journey to my soul


Thoughts

They tumble out, we've all received them
For that matter we've all sent them
Apparently we intend the receiver to understand
What exactly isn't clear
They smile and nod afraid to ask
And soon they don't care
Possibly lost
A brilliant idea they don't hear
If only we'd stop and think before we speak
In an effort to make our thoughts clear


Thanks For The Valley

As a diamond's brilliance and gold's luster illustrate
Man's greatest material treasures have come
from the depths of the earth
Forged over time through unforgiving pressure and relentless heat
They have been developed and formed
From common coal to diamonds, from rocks and dirt to gold
To now be cherished by all mankind

And so it is with us
Common in our own way
Yet harboring within the brilliance of
diamonds and the luster of gold
Fear not the heat for it will temper our
souls and illuminate our hearts
With the luster of gold
Fear not the pressure for it will build our
character and let us too sparkle

With the brilliance of diamonds
Above all, fear not the depths
For as diamonds and gold rose from the depths of the earth
So too shall we rise to the challenges before us
Stronger for our adversity, more thankful for our success
We will stand on the mountaintop for our comrades to see


Open

We are no more prisoners behind bars
Than we are in the small dark recesses of our own minds
Heaven forbid should the light shine in
Only to hear a resounding snap
As the blinds are emphatically closed
And then, through joy or pain
We let go of the old and consider the new
And why not after so long in the dark
Our minds, hearts, bodies alive
Are strengthened and grow anew


Words

We think it, we say it, we become it and it becomes our legacy
The person who spoke the words
"Sticks and stones may break my bones
but words will never hurt me"
Knew not of what they spoke
While bones may heal, the ill-placed comment inflicts a wound
Living in the mind of the receiver it remains an open sore
Repeated by the receiver it becomes a sword
Lived by the receiver is how they become known
To come full circle to the legacy they leave
All by the power of a single spoken word


Legacy

Our thoughts,
Beacons of light piercing the darkness
Illuminate our words and actions
From within we are guided
Unconscious of motive, our character evolving
Our legacy in question
What will it be


Doubt

We dream of what we might be
While others tell us what we should be
Confused we doubt and lose our way
Then a voice speaks
Saying follow me
We doubt at first then turn and say
I knew you once
Are you here to stay


Listen To The Whisper

The old man sat by the fire
Nursing his tonic and gin

The young boy sat beside him
Wondering where he'd begin

Granddaddy tell me your story
As a young boy where had you been

The old man smiled a sad smile
As the tears welled up within

Bobby when I was a young boy
I dreamed of the road ahead

The whispers of my soul
And the ramblin's of my head

I loved the music of my soul
And the dreams that lay ahead

But I listened to those who said don't go
And followed my head instead

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

Bobby when I was a young boy
I dreamed of a lady ahead

Silky hair and beautiful eyes
And lips all painted red

I met her one night
I knew it was right

My soul
That is what it said

But I listened to those who said don't go
And I followed my head instead

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

The old man stopped for a moment and thought
God where have I been

Nursing his gin, a smile on his face
And the tears welling up within

Bobby he said on the road of life
Listen to what I've said

Listen to the whispers of your soul
Not the ramblin's of your head

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

The old man sat by the fire
Nursing his tonic and gin

A sad smile on his face
He knew where he had been

Lost in his head
His soul nearly dead

He was near the end
For Bobby not true

For the old man knew
The boy's life lay ahead

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

Bobby listen to the whisper
The whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go

The old man smiled no smile
No tears welled up within

Seated by his grandson
Was the last place he had been

Bobby listen
Listen
To the whisper of your soul
It will always guide you
To a place you ought to go


Character

What we leave behind
How we are remembered
Through each thought, word and action
Our character surrenders
To the judgment of those we encounter
For better or for worse
By our character we are remembered


Community

We are members of a community
Defined in different ways
The world, our countries, states, homes, churches, organizations
Different in ways, similar in others
Similar in our desire to be connected
To share a sense of purpose
To care about someone and believe that someone cares about us

Similar in that we all have dreams, hopes, fears and aspirations
Similar in that mothers and fathers everywhere
Instinctively love and care for their children
Yes, we are different yet similar
All to be loved, appreciated and cared for as one
The community of man


Chatter

Trapped beneath the chattering of our minds
The white hot embers burn
Quieted from above
Our souls whisper for what they yearn
Asked to speak the truth
From the world that they have learned
They speak of eternal love
From which you and I can learn


Found

We struggle so to find what we don't have
Looking to others in all imaginable ways
Immersing ourselves in role after role
Never far from the answer
Yet too busy to hear
The small laughing voice from within
You're not lost, Silly, you're in here


Eyes Of A Child

Looking in their eyes
We are reminded of innocence, hope and joy
Absent fear, judgment and self doubt
They express the truth of who they are
All their parts--mind, body, spirit and soul
Are just as intended
We know it was true then
Just as we do now


Beliefs

When we stand outside and look within
We realize what fools we've been
Trapped in our own beliefs good or bad
Unable to move, how sad
Released from our thoughts now we can see
The gift that is you and the gift that is me


In The Game

On the sidelines we sit
Watching life go by
Our dreams going deeper
Soon there's no place to hide
From fear we move away from the side
We live out our dreams
Now we are alive


Wisdom

So many well intended people
Offer words of wisdom
Be careful not to choke on a pearl


No Fear

I didn't know what I didn't know
I don't know what I don't know
Now that I know what I didn't know I know it
When I experience what I don't know
Then I'll know it and love it
Above all
I hold no fear of what I don't know


Purpose

Identifying our purpose the forces of
passion are released in our lives

Applied to all that we do we have but one glorious choice
To perform
Enabled by forces before unknown
We become a beacon of hope for all those we touch
To serve our purpose brings meaning to our lives
And guidance to those who watch and follow
When we help others define and live their purpose
We create a strength of community
That enables each of us to grow


Business And Love

There are those who are somewhat squeamish about combining
Business and love
Is it truly possible to be successful without
loving what you are doing
To serve clients without having a genuine appreciation for them
I'm talking about a success measured in
more than just money earned
A success that comes from knowing in your mind and heart

That you are serving the needs of others from
a place of genuine interest in them
When we operate from this point of view
The monetary rewards are every bit as fruitful
Don't get me wrong, it's possible I know
To go to work and not love what you are doing
Many of us have and do
Given the choice why would we


Different

Maybe you are different
Maybe you aren't
Maybe they're different, maybe they aren't
The probability is you are and you aren't
When you know this as true
Acceptance ensues
Moving you closer, not farther apart


Curiosity

Curiosity breeds curiosity
Enabling discovery after discovery
Each exponentially building on one another
Creating a frenzy of activity
Resulting in messy, interesting
And occasionally fabulously creative ideas
That may or may not
Be of value to anyone
And that is exactly
As it should be


Intent

Behind each thought and spoken word
They silently work
Guided from within to a place we've never been
Our motives are known through our spirit of intent


Courage

Trapped by others' judgments
We will never know our own
Guided by their hearts
Ours will turn to stone
Lost will be our life not theirs
As if it were on loan
Only one choice now remains
To Journey on alone


Know And Imagine

There was a time when I didn't know
I only imagined
As I grew to know
That which I imagined grew so small
Is it possible to know
And still imagine


Actions

Thoughts unseen
Words spoken not known
Through our actions
We demonstrate the truth of our souls


Spoken To

Spoken to from time to time
The voice never leaves
Buried in doubt and fear
It desires to be known
Once honored as the gift of love
It desires to be seen
Expressed from an honest place
Within our loving soul


Faith

Tested through the twists and turns of life
Strengthened in the strife
Our faith grows and guides us
Through each moment of our life


One Life

Each individually tuned
A symphony in waiting
For one
The expression a delicate painting


Untold

It is not from our mind's
Eyes that we see
From the depths of our souls
We are free to believe
All that the universe has left untold


Judgment

If we are fortunate
There will come a time in our lives
When someone will make a statement we disagree with
Of greater fortune will be when we realize
We feel no resistance to the speaker or the spoken
We will then have experienced the truth
That acceptance and love are
Stonger than judgment


Untapped

We are so much more than we belive ourselves to be
Trapped between what is and what might be
Encouraged to explore and imagine
We may find untapped potential
And grander heights to achieve
What a shame it would be
To stand in the way of being all we can be


Dream

Hold within that dream
To guide, inspire, and seed
Those yet unseen

Soon to emerge, new and fresh
To move you to the mountain's crest

From where life now seen
Beckons, "Journey on!"


God

As the waters of heaven cleanse the earth
So too they cleanse me that sprang from the earth

Reuniting me with all that I am made of
To know again that I am

Of God
One with God

As all that I see
Is God


Our Gifts

When we honor the gifts given
Others follow

Each to be embraced, enjoyed
Then shared with others

Through each life they live as intended
A legacy of love and generosity remembered


Jesus

I have always known you
Never have I left

Beneath the trees of spring time
You have felt my gentle breath

Summer showers cleanse your soul
Fall beckons to her side

As winter chill winds call to you
Come to me and rest

I have always known you
Never have I left


Holy Spirit

By what hand am I moved
When from within
There is a welling up and pouring forth
Of words before unimagined

I need no more evidence
Yet am continually reminded of
The healing grace of the Holy Spirit
As it moves my mind and heart to the actions of God


The Voice

Will I allow myself
To be more than my mind has created

To honor the voice of God
Gently speaking through my soul

To be whole and complete
Without another

In faith to grow


Knowing

There is a place I see without looking
I feel without touching

From within
All grows and evolves
To a higher level of awareness

My soul is the guide


The Kid In Us

I smile at the words as they emerge
So true and full they sound

The courage that they demonstrate
In speaking what they have found

The truth so clear to them
Feet firmly on the ground

There is one answer to all problems posed
Let our Creator's love abound


Each Step

With each step taken
That which before was unknown
Becomes a new reality to be explored and shared

Without movement to possibilities
The fire of our souls recedes beneath the darkness of our minds

Warm with the expectation of awakening
Our souls wait for permission to be known again


Ignited

In love with the possible, energy is available
To light the fires of passion burning in our souls

Ignited

Our passion grows in brightness and intensity
Fulfilling our dreams is a matter of taking action


Tomorrow

Along life's path
Choices will be encountered
Once made time moves on

Right or wrong unknown
Tomorrow will come


Stupidity

Everything that exists today was at one time unknown
How absurd then to think that a new idea should have a history

How does an idea come to have a history
By becoming an old idea

How does an idea become old
By acting on it and risking that it may be a dumb idea

Once acted on and made successful we can say
Who's to say stupidity doesn't pay


Captain

Through one of life's little nudges
We find ourselves at the edge of a cliff

Not with fear
But with a sense of wonder and joy

Stemming from the knowledge
That we are, here and now

At the place we were intended to be
Enjoying our gifts and destiny


Well Done

No greater battle is waged and won
Than the one from within the man
Who struggles to free himself
From the chains of self-doubt

To find the courage then and know his way
As a man of purpose
Who delivers forth the promise
Of a life well done


The Mountaintop

Travelers guided by God's eternal breath
Seek no longer the kingdom of God

But descend to serve the height of all mankind
As one among all in God's eternal embrace


Giving

Imagine yourself a conduit through which money passes
Not to be consumed and hoarded but to be shared with others

I can hear you laughing as you say
Money already passes through me quickly enough as it is

I know that feeling as well
Nevertheless, try as I might, I can't rid myself of the notion that

Were we to give more, we would receive more
Not just money mind you, in fact mostly not money

What would be grand
Would be to give more of the small things

Smiles, handshakes, hugs, hellos, thank
yous, doors opened, doors closed

All the seemingly insignificant things we may
have concluded are expendable

All in the pursuit of money