Poetic Guidance for a Healthy

Heart, Mind, Body, & Soul

Healthy Heart,

Poetic Guidance for a

Mind, Body, & Soul

Daniel Henderson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the author. Copyright 2002 by Daniel Henderson

I want to dedicate this book to my best friend, my wife and soul mate Nicole. She truly is my internal love and I thank God for blessing me everyday with her presence of love and touch. She has inspired me to be all that life has to offer for which I would not want to experience a single moment without her.
Thank you my Love!

Contents

Introduction I A Poets Thought My Life as a Poet II Self-Seeking

ix

Sacred Heart Have You Reflections on A Pond Myself Within

5 8 9 12

Friendship Friends Lessons Learned Colliding Souls

III Relationships

16 17 20 23

To Trust My Trusted Friend Heart-Sewn Love Image of Love Passionate Love Sweet Art of Mine

IV Love & Trust

27 30 33 36 37 38

Successful Life Gift of Joy The Gift Passion Tender Heart

V Giving Heart

42 45 48 51 54

Lonesome Solitude Parted Love Sorry, Again Hear My Song Silence Inner Strength

VI Sorrow Days

58 59 62 65 68 71

VII Spiritual Ways Grace and Guidance The Word Fearful Soul Light upon Horizon VIII Motivational Spirit

75 78 81 84

Belief Knight Within Inner Challenge Funny Life

88 89 92 94

IX One Last Thought Light So Shine 99

Introduction Throughout our lives, we struggle with personal change that occurs slowly and at times without warning. The changes that have occurred in my life have turned the ocean tides on several occasions. Some of these very special changes have created insight into my own misfortunes and eye-opening struggles, which have allowed me to look at the world through different eyes, and feel the world with a different heart. This book was written from true-life experiences felt and lived during a period in my life when searching for the answers didnt always result in resolution. It wasnt until later that I completed this journey of restless thoughts; it was my faith in God and my growing relationship with Him that brought me to a true ongoing understanding of who I am. Allowing me to experience the sorrow and happiness of others and myself has created a wonderful sense of growth within my own heart. Most of the poetry I have written has been given to the ones who inspired the words as a gift to their heart. It is this gift that feeds my poetic inspiration for life. Inspired as poetic guidance for a better life for others as well as myself I have included throughout the book journal pages upon which to reflect your thoughts. Capturing your thoughts and feelings will allow you to personalize this book

around your life. So enjoy creating and developing a better you, or should I say a healthier heart, mind, body, and soul.

I A Poets Thought

For cherished thoughts, beloved feelings, and life within. My precious thanks, Oh Lord.

MY LIFE AS A POET Seeking words of heart and souls Painful feelings surround Living others inside oneself So helpful how profound Indeed you see within my heart Open to ones so dear Given forth love and hope Away with saddened fear For joy within provided soul Painful feelings subside Breathe of air so fresh within Now keeps my soul alive

My Life as a Poet, describes thoughts and feelings that are true to my heart. The deep feelings for other lives as well as my own allow me to write from within my heart and soul with poetic melody. Opening up and exposing my own heart to the pain and laughter of others can be difficult to express in writing, sometimes becoming painful to live out in words. It is these words I love to share, take hold, feel and write about. By providing my melody of thoughts, the reader opens their heart and lives out the exposed feelings within. My poetic life, best described as saddened joy. A fresh breath taken in daily by knowing that the gift of life is so precious. To feel saddened justifies how important and precious life is. The ability to feel life to its fullest within my heart is the most beloved life I can live. I will continue to live for others within the poetic realm of my gift expressed from within my heart, mind, body, and soul. To live is to give too, share with, and care for others. So live for others; it may become the doorway to many close and dear relationships.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR LIFE

II SELF-SEEKING

From within yourself, live and be yourself.

SACRED HEART Saddened tears come over me Darkness suddenly disclosed Hurt deepens within my heart Gut-twisted sickness I loathe To imply this way I feel Only few I trust to share But revealed within myself The feelings I must beware So stored away none to know Myself only truths reveal The sacred life of ones heart Given time it too shall heal

Quite often, I feel emotions sacred only to my heart. Others may appreciate what Im feeling by providing help and understanding towards my thoughts, but this is not always the answer. Reliving my feelings allows recollection of thoughts and experiences from the past. To first think, feel, and understand my feelings allow me to mend and create self-reliance within my heart. At times, I receive no answers to my question, but while thinking over the event, calm comes over my heart and mind. Dont misunderstand; its good to share our feelings and seek help. I have trustworthy people within my life that I turn to when my needs exceed my ability to understand. When I share my feelings with others, I choose someone that will lead me down the right path to emotional healing and understanding. Within the poem Sacred Heart I was lost, but I knew the answer. It was within this that I decided to act upon my answer and to live with my resolve.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR SACRED HEART

HAVE YOU Have you ever felt time as it slowly passed by? Like a shadow cast by a dark moving sky Feelings of desperation thoughts of needing more Running through ocean tides trying to reach the shore Have you craved to rise from your sad despair? To tear down the walls of fear and beware To build confidence within lifting up and above Changing your ocean tides to happiness and love Gather all self-pity fear and loneliness you feel Bury it deep beneath you in a green grassy field Absorb the beautiful serenity of this field within Feel the cool breeze of life, hair blowing in the wind Live this freedom of happiness as it begins to grow Smile with everlasting joy as it begins to show With the Lord as your shepherd, take command of thee Lords strength and love guiding your precious destiny

REFLECTIONS IN A POND Staring into my eyes reflected in a pond Unanswered feelings were revealed Memories of childhood held the answer Breaking down my lonely shield I remember my childhood carefree and young Full of life and full of fun Running and playing the day passed by Warm beneath the glowing sun Life was simple to this bold little child The small world in his hands Conquering challenges it was simple you see With a childs heart walking the land I stare at the reflection the pond looking back The eyes so tired on me Where is that child my eyes dont reveal? The pond has no answer you see The childs in your heart pumping life into thee Creating the answers you ask why For that precious child you must seek no more For that precious child is still I

The memories of my childhood show pictures of happiness. As a boy living in the country, I raised everything from frogs to caterpillars. My playground was the fields surrounding my parents home and every tree, bush, and ditch provided a lost land of discovery. I was the Lewis & Clark of my surroundings. Discovery was an adventure not a fear, chances created excitement not stress, and everyday when school let out I could not wait to see what would happen next. Where does it go and what happens to the forgotten life I once lived? It is incredible how easily we loose this heart of a child. As we get older and life slaps down its ugly hand, we lose trust in our surroundings. Our playground becomes our battleground and we find ourselves fighting for everything within a land we used to feel at home in. Oh yes, I am older, scared from past life experiences, caution leads my every step and wisdom grows with every breath but Im still that same child. Im still the original creation that God made me and its up to me to hold on to what was created in me. To let this die within would be a tragedy of self-destruction that I must defend. In September of 1998, while sitting at a park watching a friend play soccer, I experienced a feeling that gives truth to my belief. It was a cool autumn day, with scattered clouds above and the smell of winter in the air. During that moment, a feeling overwhelmed my heart, a combination of sadness and a reminder of how life should be felt.

It was the memory of a park I used to play in as a child and the happiness I felt within.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR INNERSELF

MYSELF WITHIN To search throughout deepest thought For felt with tender heart The innermost so which I hide For outer masks I part Searching on I start to live Myself for this I find Shared with all now inward out Myself portrayed with time

As I look back upon the memories of my own life, I find that changes occur as life unravels within me. The changes seem unstoppable within my life as it unfolds. Therefore, as I face changes in life, I remember one aspect. Be myself and allow the changes to help create who I am. As the poem Myself Within expresses, I laid down my outer masks and stopped trying to be someone I was not. I have had to learn to be myself during the many changes that have occurred during my life. I left home at the age of nineteen to protect my country in the military, facing different cultures and personalities, always defending who I thought I was. In reality I was defending someone I was not, in an attempt to protect myself from uncertainties of life. Now as time continues to pass on, I find that life never stops developing my inner self. Life, in fact, continues to develop other areas that I probably thought never existed, allowing life to develop changes within. So open up the heart and soften the shields, which will allow changes to develop within and throughout.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON WHO YOU ARE

III RELATIONSHIPS

For those who call on me as their friend, I too shall love, honor, and defend.

FRIENDSHIP What do friendships mean to me? To trust, give, help and care for To love forgive support and stand up for To accept completely without prejudice to bare When sad and hurt the pain well share Foundation of honesty building the bridge Connecting the life line we live within So open your heart to a special soul Developed with time a friendship will grow

FRIENDS What does our friendship mean to me? I seek to share my thoughts Feelings of acceptance and need Sharing our lives Ive sought I open my heart and down my shields Building trust upon a thread Woven with time the relationship grows Soon a rope bonds our friendship instead To share our lives with ones we love True meaning of this is revealed I give the greatest gift of all With my life our friendship is sealed

The friendships that we create and the friendships that are lost throughout our lifetime develop the special one-on-one memories that we carry dear within our hearts forever. It saddens my heart at times when I look over my life and remember past friends. Some have moved on to new chapters in their lives, and some have passed away leaving sweet memories in our hearts. I remember the times we spent sharing, laughing, crying, and sometimes just sitting in silent thought together. There have been times when I have returned to places where memories were created and reminisced about the past. I feel the sadness of loss but also the sweet joy of once sharing their life. I miss those friends but I cherish the friends that now share my life. I thank them for their presence and the precious time we have so little of that, they choose to share with me. Friendship is and always shall be, dear to my heart, a created bond between ones that love, trust and accept you.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR FRIENDSHIPS

LESSON LEARNED Why my friend why does it take Lessons learned to realize To ones so dear not giving love My actions I do despise My selfish needs I too regret Unable to share the pain My heart so hard now holding back For this I am to blame Thank you my friend eyes now clear The picture you helped me see The love I feel taken for granted How precious you are to me

It seems to me, and maybe it doesnt hold true for all, that people have a tendency at some point within relationships to take someone dear to their heart for granted. I know this personally, you find yourself feeling comfortable with someone. Your relationship becomes an unconditional acceptance of each other with certain thoughts or actions exposed with less discretion, and the relationship begins to grow apart. Communication breaks down to a point where the ones involved no longer talk about the simple thoughts or possibly, no longer speak at all. The poem Lesson Learned speaks of a friend that was strong enough to seek out the answer. Not being afraid of speaking the truth, they expressed their concerns to me. I appreciated their truthfulness as well as caring enough to confront the issue. With my heart, I gave thanks and asked for forgiveness. I feel what is written in the previous poem Friendship is an important message to repeat. Even though I may fail at times within my own heart, I strive very hard to live my life according to what the message expresses. Friendship is to trust, give, help, and care for. To love, forgive, support, and stand up for. True friends accept each other for who they are with great love and admiration.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON LESSONS LEARNED

COLLIDING SOULS Lives bonded friendship sewn, Special souls collide Given trust so confidence Inner hearts confide Few we meet on counted hand Ones so lived within Always sealed thou deepest heart Friendship Ill defend

What is it to join in friendship? I have always been one who shares his life with others. I enjoy meeting new people, creating relationships and surrounding myself with others with whom I enjoy sharing my life and who seem to bring out the best in me. Now there is also another level of friendship; you might call them your best friends. They are the special souls you connect with, with deep trust and love. When all is lost you can always turn to these people without fear of un-acceptance. They sincerely love you for who you are and would protect you no matter how high the stakes. Colliding Souls was inspired by, and is dedicated to, the people whom I consider my best friends. I cannot say that I have a long list of these types of friends; they are like finding gold of unlimited value, the unlimited value that only a best friend would understand. With great dedication to the ones who have always shown me true love and acceptance, my life I would give, for no other gift would show my adoration.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR SPECIAL SOULS

IV LOVE & TRUST

To love is to live, so in life, I shall love.

TO TRUST We live our lives To trust and give We live for others To trust and forgive We talk and listen To trust and share We open our hearts To trust and care We share our lives To trust this way With ones we love Well trust each day

Trust; the single most important word! The Webster Dictionary defines trust as, assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. As defined, it gives no feeling to what trust really means. For example, to share with someone a feeling or event in my life, something that makes me happy or sad, maybe the sharing of silence. The feeling of comfort you receive from a trusted friend is a feeling greater than words can express. It is this connection that provides an unconditional faith that can last a lifetime. To receive someones trust is a great honor. The giving of their trust makes me feel special in their life, a feeling that I care for with all my heart. It is also fear of mine to break someones trust, losing that bond that takes so long to build, but within seconds can be lost. I know within my heart the pain that is felt from being failed by a trusted friend. It hurts deeper than where the heart lives, as if lost within your soul, a reminder hidden and at times difficult to forget or forgive. So I pray that I can forgive, for someday I may stumble and fall. To my trusted friends, thank you, for your trust provides comfort in my life.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON TRUST WITHIN

MY TRUSTED FRIEND To search throughout ones day to day Few trusted hard to find Provided gift of ones true soul For this held dear to mine Thou given trust thine connected Precious to my heart Protected soul thy trusted friend Till lifes end will I part

How does someone describe the true, innermost heart-trusted relationship? Is it possible to create such a bond within todays world, where selfishness and greed affects so many lives? Can two souls connect with a common appeal towards sharing and giving? It is difficult to search and find such relationships. In fact, its unique how these relationships occur, brought together by Gods will to nourish each others souls. You never realize its coming, as time passes in our daily lives, it occurs like lightning, striking down upon us without warning, no sound, just a flash, and there it is, two souls bonding, an inner connection sharing their lives together with the utmost inner trust and respect. A friendship, so special, that you would sacrifice your life to save the other. The poem My Trusted Friend, so unique and special, expressed from the heart. How fortunate our lives would be if only one would strike upon the life we live. For if so, cherish it as if you have one day to live, for tomorrow may never come.

REFLECT UPON A TRUSTED FRIEND

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

HEART-SEWN LOVE Hearts separate love unites Amongst forsaken souls Joined within destined vow Forever love I pose Trusted touch given thee Casting inward doubt Beloved gift heart and soul This my lifes about When time comes death taken Earthly life from me Heart sewn love joined within Heavenly felt in thee

To love is to cherish a soul, to give and share your heart with a precious life. To give forth your best with every step you take and every word you speak. Heart-Sewn Love is the love you give to a special someone, vowing your love for each other forever. Call it magic. Call it what you will, I call it destined love. You may part from each other for a period of time or forever, but your love lives on, surviving in each others heart, kindling memories of life together. It is precious love you share with ones living within your heart, sharing a part of you that shall never be returned. Creating a lifetime survival of food for both to live on, devoured by trust and love, destined to be together as one, forever.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR HEART SEWN-LOVE

IMAGE OF LOVE I saw you love as sun rose night So felt your love of warm sunlight I heard your voice as winds passed through Your scent I smell of flower bloom This given day my thoughts dont hide Your image love that I confide The winds of life the light of day Your flower blooms my love this way

PASSIONATE LOVE Passionate love so within Never like Ive known Laying warmth upon your soul Felt within my own Feeling such so provides Passion for my love Heart I give myself to thee Forever from above

Sweet Art of Mine To create, Sweet Art of mine, Upon my canvas with oils divine Beautiful strokes of color true Shown within our hearts anew Love released on canvas stains Visual reflection now remains The base upon our lives reveal A blessing from God is now our seal So now displayed for all to see This visual story of love for thee Perpetual souls float high above An eternal pool hearts one with love

Defining love would be unjustified, but come with me as I express the love that fills my heart. This is the love that supplies my air; it gives me solid ground to walk upon and a safety net to capture my fall. This love is the love I feel for my beautiful wife Nicole, my soul mate, my best friend, my one true love throughout eternity. This I express for you, My Love! As my heart feels and my mind speaks, I am drawn to her like energy connecting our souls together. I feel her laughter and her pain. Her heart moves me; I am exposed to her touch, and I am taken by her eyes. The love of her innocent eyes expressing the passion she feels inside warms my love for her. I spread my arms apart, exposing my heart to the painful daggers of life. Even though I have felt daggers swung to close by past loves, I fear nothing! I feel warmth of trust within. Blinded by love? No! Love with blindness. I close my eyes and trust her, exposing my weakness and providing my strength trusting her with all my soul. This energy produced by love is a force understood by no one. To describe a feeling so strong can only be created by love itself. She feels my energy and I feel hers. I now understand, I now feel love as a whole. Energy so strong it creates every emotion a person can feel, the emotions that create human life.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR PASSIONATE LOVE

V Giving Heart

A gift from the heart is providence without want.

SUCCESSFUL LIFE Money earned cloths you wear Style of car you drive Hillside house black caviar Success is what you strive Material success sad but true Temporary feeling indeed Seeking deeper heart within Success grown planted seed Others lives you must care Open heart youll give Honest driven daily ways Trusting life youll live Looked upon with greedy eyes Lonely life youll feel Felt upon with loving eyes Successful lives are sealed

What is the key to success? Is it the ability to look on life with a smile, or is it personal gain by not losing sight of what is important in life? Some may think status, money, and material possession is the golden ticket to happiness. Some may look on life with a grim face, ready to protect their self-worth and self-perseverance. Whatever road I decide to take will not be my own but a life of trust in Gods faithful guidance. There was a time when I allowed success to run my life. I placed work in front of my personal values. Friends can change along with the monetary value we place on our lives, resulting in many less fortunate friends being left behind. Sometimes along with the change of responsibility comes a change of personality. Life can become less fun and less genuine. I forgot where I once stood and how I once felt during those times of need. I now believe deep within my heart that everyone should strive to live the most successful life possible. But my successful life now relates to others as well as myself. Some of my most memorable gratifying moments were the result of hard work followed by great success. But success is not complete without others to share it. Amongst all my success, I strive very hard not to lose sight of what is most important; genuine thankfulness to God for his blessings within my successful and personal life.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR SUCCESS

GIFT OF JOY Joy and laughter given to us A gift not all bestow A given gift within yourself Responsibilities you must know Joy given to others at their expense The laughter you may create The feelings damaged with that joy The consequence you shall reap Give forth the joy and laughter to all To all who need a smile Remove the selfish humor within Which creates unforgiving style

Looking back on the lesson described by the poem Gift of Joy brings back unwanted memories. You dont always realize the impact you have on people surrounding you. One wrong word or bad joke can damage a persons feelings, possibly damaging the relationship. I can say with great honesty how fortunate I am, realizing something that for years I took for granted. Im talking about people, what theyre made of, who they are, and what they represent in life. At times, looking back through my memories, I provided joy for others at the expense of someone elses feelings. Never did I once stop to think how it affected the person being laughed at. Some may say Its just in fun; I dont mean anything by it, so what, were friends. They know Im just joking. But it does matter; it matters to the singled-out person being laughed at. It wasnt until a friend of mine told me one day as I joked with others; Yea, its funny, at my expense! While the small group of people laughed at my last comment, I experienced a feeling I had never felt before. Seeing how it hurt my friends feelings, I was ashamed! Ashamed to have hurt, embarrassed, and upset my friend. It was at that point my heart sank deep within. I apologized and explained, in front of the small group of people, that I would never treat him or anyone else like that again. A lesson, indeed, was learned. That night I drove to a quiet location, picked up my book and began to write. Still saddened by my actions, I wrote until I finished the

poem. The next day I shared what I had written and my heart was opened. It is my wish that others benefit from my mistake and misfortune. Indeed, a lesson was learned.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

REFLECT UPON THE ONES YOU HAVE HURT

THE GIFT No greater gift a person can give Than the gift of acceptance and need A feeling of want expressed in the eyes Relationships grown from this seed Please suffer not desiring this gift From the ones you love so dear Turn your desires into showers of giving Raining down on all without fear So plant the seed gift of acceptance That honors the love you know Allow it to grow within their heart Spreading love throughout their soul

The poem of broken relationships and broken hearts, struggles of someone seeking love and acceptance from another. Lost without answers, I wrote, The Gift to help seek out the truth. As a giving soul, I can only give from myself; I dont have the ability to give to myself from someone else. I can ask, even beg for acceptance, but if their heart says no, its lost. Some people learn to accept the way a person gives, even if selfishness is the central motive. In addition, some, heart-broken and saddened within, wait, they wait for the day to come, living in pain and sorrow over lost acceptance. This is a difficult pain to accept when you so dearly desire a persons love and kindness. The answer lies within me, not in the person I seek. I must give my heart for them to feel. I must accept them for who they are with open arms. Allow the feeling of accepting love to veil their heart providing warmth within. If, after giving my heart, the person decides not to accept me, I will live in peace with myself. I provided everything that a loving person can give. I gave myself within. To suffer no guilt, I must forgive, accept, and expect nothing in return, but the knowledge of the truth that my gift was given.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR GIFTS WITHIN

PASSION Passion for life passion for souls Like white scattered skies above Floating slowly clouds so share Stories of sadness and love Solutions appear deep within Forms beauty you shall confide Feelings you see within the clouds Your passion disclosed inside My cloud above rained down upon Tears form heart-shown eyes Feelings surround my gift in life This passion I cannot hide Sadness I feel gives joy revealed For pledged Ill claim to bare Passion for souls my heart within In life this gift Ill share

Passion, just spoken alone sounds powerful. Now apply it to your life and see what change you create as a result. Man did not fly to the moon due to mere luck it required passion and innovation. It required living out a dream not just dreaming it. Now combine your passion with the people that surround you. Impassionate people will crave to be near you, they will recognize that there is something different about you something they desire as well. Passionate people will recognize this strength and surround themselves with your energy. This energy is comforting; it is a way of looking at life that not everyone understands and shares. It is an epidemic that we all should try to catch. Start with asking yourself one questionWhat excites me? Figure it out, draw energy off it and apply the same excitement to everything you do. That is passion. We all have passion for something but can we apply it to most things we do? Can we capture that energy and apply just a little to the things were not passionate about. Its a tall order and I fail at times keeping that fire ablaze but I believe that something is better than nothing. Fight with passion, fight for your family, fight for your friends, and fight to be the best you can be in everything you do! Can you feel what Im saying? Do you want to live? Then get passionate with life!

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION IN LIFE?

TENDER HEART Heart so tender love bound soul Shared with ones so dear Sacred gift of trust within Felt not unknown fear Lives so bond this given time Oneness shining light For God-given shared throughout Thy soul with loving sight

How can we live without a tender heart? I truly believe that without love and trust, a true relationship cannot flourish. The same is true for our heart, for without love it can grow cold and hard. A person eventually loses the ability to care for and nourish other lives. I know this is true. Ive lived it. I have turned away complete lives from my once cold heart, closing off my ability to share and love. If it were not for the miracle of almost losing my life, I could have lost many dear memories with futures to create. Time passed, but I was able to rekindle my love for God and my life. It is possible to love, share, and care for people as a lifes passion, not a convenience.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR TENDER HEART

VI SORROW DAYS

The appreciation of happiness is nurtured by sadness.

LONESOME SOLITUDE Lonesome solitude pain I feel Oh my heart cries out inside Nourish my pain of lonely wounds Too hard for me to hide Memories of time so hard to see Alls left the feelings in my heart Laughter joy and pain we shared No longer while were apart Within your dreams you feel my words Worry not my darling sleep tight Until such day you return Ill wait With memory of my kiss goodnight

PARTED LOVE My heart blood soaked with love Bleeding pain within Twisted gut sickened throughout Here it comes again Alone without your eyes on mine Love so shown within Lost without your life in I Here it comes again Your tender smile innocent sweet Joy revealed within Saddened without your smiles for me Here it comes again Silence surrounds my life without Sharing thoughts within Your voice I hear inside my heart Here it comes again Our friendship bond given true So throughout again Honored true till your return Heart felt deep within

Alone and far from my love, the love that warms my heart and softens my soul. The love that relieves my pains of loneliness and sorrow and the love that says I need you. There is nothing that describes the ache that consumes my heart when Im separated from the one who fills my life with love. As the poems Lonesome Solitude and Parted Love describe, loneliness veils over me like a storm, dark, cold, and dreary. What once was beauty surrounding me becomes gray and subdued. The memories striking down upon me like arrows from the sky, piercing my flesh with pictures from the past. Like a motion picture in my mind, I see her face and I feel her hand. I smell the scent of her body and the warmth of her soul while holding her in my arms. But like a breath of wind across my face, shes gone, lost with only memories as a reminder of what we once shared. As I dream with hopes for the day she returns, I remind myself of the importance of her life. How dear she is to me! How easy it is throughout our life to take the ones we love for granted. What if shes gone tomorrow, taken from me forever with only memories to reflect upon? What if I lose her in the crowd of life, forgetting who she is and how much she means to me? What if we grow apart, thinking selfishly of ourselves and not each other? I pray the love I feel will always remind me of the what ifs, for I never want to lose what is precious to my heart and soul. I reach out with my heart, sending messages to the stars, praying she hears my words. I wait and listen, seeing the beauty of her face and the love in her

eyes etched in my mind. I fall asleep with comfort felt within, knowing that one day she shall return.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR PARTED LOVE

SORRY, AGAIN I know within guilty thought For time shelters pain I feel throughout sickened heart Drenched forth sorrowed rain With opened eyes somber soul Reveals sight foreseen Lifted strength with tender touch My love given thee

Im sorry. A request for forgiveness from the heart that I took for granted. Using it like money to buy back used smiles and lost laughter, a request that in time lost its compassion to mend broken hearts and lost its integrity to mend my own. With opened eyes, somber soul, reveals sight foreseen, describes my sorrow within, knowing that my request would come again. It is my belief that the heart is a delicate creation of God, providing sustained life as well as feelings throughout our soul. We must take heed and pray for strength to overcome repetitive requests for forgiveness. I now look upon life with a warm heart. It is my hope that this renewal of my soul will sustain a love for others nurtured by a forgiving heart. For if not, I will be sorry again.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR SORROWSOME WAYS

HEAR MY SONG My heart so lost words not found Confused I cant speak Conscious searching endless thoughts Answers which I seek My heart sheds tears eyes revealed Sadness deep unknown Longing sharing living words This my saddened song If thou hear the song I cry Carried by the wind Pray my heart a mended day Love so felt within

Saddened within, I reach out for help without gesture and without sound. Lost without answers, I search within my soul, the instrument of poetic music. As the song plays in my thoughts, my heart feels the words of comfort and pain. To live this way allows me to become passionate within my own life, as well as others. Feeling lost and searching for the words to my music, I was lonely and afraid with no one to turn to. This buried me in sorrow and I began to write the poem, Hear My Song. The answers developed within the lines of my poetic thoughts. I realized this later, while reading over the poem. The answer appeared and my heart received it. The longing in my heart to share my poetic words creates sadness within. This sadness in my heart creates the poetic melody for my life and others.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON THE WORDS TO YOUR SONG

SILENCE Cry out darkness alone I feel Afraid of the shadows I see Why do the clouds block my sun? Casting loneliness over me I cant break free from this despair Is it I am I to blame? Do I want more not willing to give? Or is life boring just the same Has mistrust in the past built a wall? Not willing to forget or forgive Always on my mind never to let go Is this the way Ill live? I am lost in heart mind, and soul Oh why cant I hear the words? To others it seems I find the answers To myself I hear silence

The poem, Silence, is a lonely word for a broken heart. To search for answers to the questions stored deep within the mind, which is nourished by the heart with feelings of the unknown, wondering from day to day whether or not your silent pain will be replaced with happiness and contentment. Within the poem, Silence, I wondered, searching for the answer that would relieve the heavy load carried upon my heart. At times, opening myself to criticism from others, I struggled to make things right within myself. Being someone who reaches out to others when theyre in need, I naturally tried to reach out to myself. My struggle was for naught, for I was left in silence with only the unknown to remind me of what I felt inside. As I continued upon my journey, I prayed for answers. I begged for the pain to subside and relieve my soul of the unhappiness inside. I now try not to hold on to the feelings that eat me alive like cancer. It is better to expose myself from the outside to someone I trust rather than rot away from the inside all alone. Even though at times this type of exposure is risky, my answer always comes to me and silence becomes relaxation within my heart and mind, and my soul is now at rest.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR SILENCE WITHIN

INNER STRENGTH Overcast oh somber night Lost this given day Memories dark enclosed Joyful life once way So prevails given strength Life protected soul Lifted up heart so filled Inner strength thou show

It almost seems inevitable, the pain and suffering of life placing its hand upon our shoulders. As life reveals its secrets to me, I find myself searching for answers. Sometimes my answers come as puzzles, piece-by-piece, first connecting pieces together from the outside, eventually working my way to the center of my heart, making me whole. For its lifes difficult struggles that strengthen my ability to survive. Life has its way of protecting itself from emotional pain and suffering. Life at times can become difficult, running into walls of struggling times. While attempting to climb over my painful walls, I may reach out with fear, crying, How can I survive this? Im never going to make it. Well, I can and I will. There is an inner-strength within us all. This strength armors us against the difficult struggles that nature brings down upon our lives. Even when life seems to be falling apart, leaving us stranded and alone, our inner strength prevails with mighty waves of comfort. This inner strength is my Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ who I place all my faith. As written within the poem, Inner Strength, even the most somber night didnt prevail over the rising sun, bringing forth to life a new day. Now look into the window of your own soul, for faith and guidance will reveal your inner strength, so provided by our Lord and Savior.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR INNER STRENGTHS

VII SPIRITUAL WAYS

As my life shines on, In Gods eyes I shall live my life!

GRACE AND GUIDANCE Feeling sadness my tender heart So fragile our lives can be Take me Lord from my despair Casting darkness over me Confused in thought we may feel To punish ourselves with blame Fighting feelings so deep inside Afraid of facing the pain Grace and guidance the Lord provides So open your heart to him Trusting faith He will provide The love and comfort within

Grace and Guidance is about giving your sorrow over to God. Asking guidance, driven by His grace, allowing life to reveal its truth. If youre only thinking of yourself, youll never hear the words, and they will be muffled by your own thoughts. I finally allowed God to speak to my heart and it changed my life forever! Even though I falter, I am not alone. He is always there waiting to pick me up when Im down. For so long I ignored this and tried to control my own life. Never would I turn to God for guidance; rather, I would turn to myself, often leaving my heart with an empty lonely feeling inside. But God knew what was planned for me and He waited patiently with total unconditional love. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake. Psalms 23:1-3 (i.e. NIV)

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON THE LORDS GUIDANCE IN YOU

THE WORD Living bodies our souls do wear Protecting the life within Love, happiness pain we share Upon this world were in Pressures of life getting you down Sometimes to hard to bare Forget not lifes precious gift God given for all to share The sacrifice that Jesus gave Everlasting life God provides By asking the Lord into your life Born again youll feel inside So bow and pray for guidance sought Within your heart feel the Lord Give forth your faith felt within Living your life upon the Word

The poem The Word, is a reminder and a turning point in my life. Shortly after writing the poem Silence and after sinking as deep into sorrow as I could bear, a helping hand reached out and helped me. Pulled from the depth of sorrow, I prayed, returned to church, and thanked the Lord for the hand that lay upon me. I failed within my own life and with my relationship with the Lord. I had forgotten the reason I was here and whom I should be living for, then I became revived in His word. I now use this poem as my priority check on life. I still backslide at times with my relationship with the Lord but with the words of this poem repeating in my thoughts I soon remember the importance of what the Lord sacrificed and the thankfulness I have for the gift that He gave. So as I continue to bow and pray for guidance, I feel the Lord in my heart and soul giving my life to Him on faith alone, knowing that He will receive me. God led me to a special friend and that friend led me back to the Lord. Miracles happen in many wonderful ways.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON GODS GIFT TO US

FEARFUL SOUL Change of sight oh hollowed eyes Your heart seeks deep within Blood shed tears forever more Living lonely wet with sin Lost mankind screaming pain Hell cast devoured fire Eternal loss within their death Gods grace upon now desired Forever late shed from grace Gods gift was turned away Guilt sorrowful ridden pain Their now everlasting day Listen now with fearful soul Afraid to sleep this night Find the Lord within your heart Gods salvation guiding light For born again you shall wake Lifted up with tender heart Now saving grace eternal life Given gift, God wont part

There are moments in life where you stop and take heed. Something happens and youre suddenly aware of how dangerous life is. You realize that life is not a guarantee on earth, that life is very fragile and delicate. I have gambled many times with my life, but thanks to my Guardian Angel, Im still alive. It was during one of these eye-opening occurrences that I felt a deep sorrow within. It was sorrow that reached out to others. It reminded me of how I felt about the worlds relationship with the Lord. How often I meet people who are living their life not knowing the Lord personally. I took this for granted and I failed to touch other lives with what I felt within my heart. Fearful Soul is the poem that scares me straight any time I veer off the path of righteousness. A reality check that reminds me that Im not the one in control, for without the Lord, I am lost. This passage was the road to my righteousness, for no longer am I lost. For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 (i.e. NIV)

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON GODS SALVATION

LIGHT UPON HORIZON Sometimes hard daily ways Saddened with oneself Thought of ending life within Weakened tears of help Justified you feel inside Ending life so dear Given time light so shined Cleansing painful fear Your darkened night ending soon Light upon horizon Given forth this newly day Living eyes so rising Looked upon God so loved Looking down on thee Precious life within yourself Clearly you will see

Life is difficult at times, struggling with stress, fear and feelings of unimportance. With this pain, we search for answers within. For some the answer is ending all their struggles by ending their own life, removing something so precious from earth at the means of there own hands. Some may not give their life a chance to repair itself, to mend their broken heart. It may seem as though darkness has covered their life with no way out and any sign of light at the end of the tunnel. I am here to say there is light at the end of the tunnel. The sun will rise and a new day will begin and so will your life. Troublesome times given a day will seem less troublesome. I live my life this way every day, and God is my light at the end of the tunnel. He gives me the strength to survive, guiding me through my life with the word of the Bible and the Holy Spirit within my soul.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON THE STRENGTH GOD PROVIDES

VIII MOTIVATIONAL SPIRIT

To become is to desire and conquer with your heart, mind, body, and soul.

BELIEF An inner thought within your mind An inner feeling within your heart A plan of action written down Into reaction built from the ground I believe this is true from my heart life will pursue Gathering gifts spreading truth to who believe So believe in your heart and what it is you desire For your gifts of need you too shall receive

KNIGHT WITHIN Swallow gut feelings of unlike despair Rotting determination on the face in your mirror Shed away shyness like a snake sheds a skin Leaving trails of silence revealing changes within Clear away filth that absorbs your air Breathe in confidence develop armor to wear Complete yourself with a sword and shield A knight you become inner confidence revealed

To believe in yourself is to become confident within showing your true self without fear, to love yourself and love others with a passion for life. I once was ignorant of how to have proper selfassurance. I was confident but arrogant and my belief in myself was for myself. Selfishness and arrogance was my ticket to unhappiness. What I thought was my ticket up was my ticket down and I paid for it. As the poem, Belief states, life has its way of rewarding you, but dont forget, you reap what you sow and I reaped it. I had to clear away the filth within so I could breathe in new confidence with a driving force of belief for others. I soon learned to love others with a giving confidence that spread throughout other lives in ways I cannot describe. Believe in yourself and become a Knight within, protecting others from the arrogance of life that so many times rains down upon us.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON WHAT CREATES CONFIDENCE WITHIN

INNER CHALLANGE Physical growth within ourselves Flexibility and strength aside The will to lift your inner self To conquer a challenge inside To hide behind this fear within Holding back what you conspire Afraid of facing the end result Putting out your burning desire Challenge yourself from this youll feel Inner strength within youll find The ability to rise above yourself Conquering your heart and mind

Im sure everyone can remember a time when theyve wanted to quit. Whatever the challenge was, it became tough, creating a feeling that tested their will to complete the task at hand. I wrote, Inner Challenge to remind myself every time I was being tested to continue, not to quit and to successfully finish. I know within my own life the same test has been given when the fear of starting a task has created a wall for me to climb. I have to challenge myself, putting myself in the limelight, forcing myself to act. I know that its easy to make excuses for why I shouldnt do something, but it is not easy to make excuses for why I quit. If I start the task at hand, I know my inner strength will take over to help me complete my challenge. So find within yourself what part of you is stronger, your ability to start or your ability to finish. This will make it much easier to strengthen you weakness and become successful in your own inner challenges. Inner challenge creates inner growth; are you ready?

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON YOUR INNER CHALLENGES

FUNNY LIFE Its funny to me this life were about Peoples thoughts feelings and such How different we are inside and out Similarities at times indeed Its funny to me how we worry of life Daily events lifes unpaved road Relaxed I feel taking moments in stride Lifes simple to me you see Its funny to me this smile I wear To laugh at lifes daily ways This given burden that I can bare These daily ways Ill be

I couldnt think of a better way to complete this chapter. To focus on what creates happiness within and fuels the energy of my inner motivation for life, the smile I wear, and the laughter I feel inside. I love the challenges and the pain that creates my continuous growth within. I love that life is funny; there are no guarantees, no promises of smooth sailing. Take the next wave and have fun. Remember what it was like as a child, laughing and having fun, not taking life so seriously all the time. It is my belief and it works for me. It is almost impossible to be upset and wear a smile at the same time. Yes, it feels uncomfortable at first, but I persist and soon my feelings inside start to subdue. It reminds me that life is meant to be lived happy, so enjoy it, live it, and love it. Be responsible, but not stressed out. Remember that a smile a day keeps no one away.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

REFLECT UPON WHAT IS FUNNY IN YOUR LIFE

IX ONE LAST THOUGHT

It is God-given this life we live. What we do with our lives is up to each one of us so live life to the fullest for the Lord, yourself, and others. From this you will be richly rewarded with passion for life.

LIGHT SO SHINE Mindful strain heart descent Struggled human life Selfish love broken heart Darkened blinded sight Seek within heart felt love Caring eyes appear Clearing sight you shall see Through this darkened fear Given forth selfless life Gifted caring way Light so shine outward love From this given day

It is my prayer and my hearts desire that the words written within this book have touched your heart in some emotional and passionate way. I know for myself that the experience of writing and the emotions that created the words has had a life-changing effect on my life. To feel the passion of life was once work for me. I had to force myself to feel and allow the feelings to express inward, as well as outward. This kind of expression is not easy within this world. Some will consider this act as a sign of weakness, for the strong would not allow this to unveil. I have found this to be true in my environment. The growth within my heart and soul has shown me a larger perspective on life. I feel and understand people with more of an open heart and a giving hand. I love people without expecting love in return and I appreciate the life that God has given me. As I continue to help others with my poetic guidance I pray that my own inner-growth will continue to flourish. So, flourish within your own growth and reach out and touch someone within your life. As I finish with the last four lines of the poem, Light So Shine, I pray for you a better life and a healthier heart, mind, body, and soul. Giving forth-selfless life gifted caring way, light so shine outward love, from this given day.

____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

ONE LAST THOUGHT

Poetic Guidance for a Healthy Heart, Mind, Body, & Soul

Thank you and blessings to you all! Daniel Henderson