On your journey toward God
as your faith falters
you will stumble and fall
but when you cry out for help
remembering
to whom and where
you are going
His hand will always be there
to pull you out of your sorrow
and confusion
reminding you not to fear
for His hand was
is and always will be there
to draw you near
if only you are willing
HIS HAND
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
Meditations of a Gentle Warrior
To read my longer writing, subscribe at robertvanvalkenburgh.com
The Lord always
gives me what I need
He has a plan
beyond my desires
and understanding
may I trust
in His ways
in His time
and His love
for He has never failed
faltered or forsaken me
not even once
may I be faithful
to His faithfulness
forever
FAITHFUL TO FAITHFULNESS
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
Meditations of a Gentle Warrior
To read my longer writing, subscribe at robertvanvalkenburgh.com
Faith is not easily attained
for the fruits of faith
are not seen
until we are faithful
revealing themselves
as we walk
through our fear
and as we trudge
the road of happy destiny
we discover that our faith
is always met
with the faithfulness of a God
who never abandons us
THE FRUITS OF FAITH
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
Meditations of a Gentle Warrior
To read my longer writing, subscribe at robertvanvalkenburgh.com
“I wasn’t born nice. I have to try really hard to be that way.”
—My Wife
Some people tell us exactly who they are, leaving us with the choice to believe them, accept them, love them, or leave. These people do not try to be someone else, they do not hide their truth, and they do not expect that everyone will like them. They are who they are and they wear their flaws, fears, and insecurities on the surface right along with their desires, demands, and affection.
Being truthful about who they are does not necessarily mean that they like it. It simply means that they admit it, they own it, and they live with it. Being the first to acknowledge their flaws is both a form of strength and a protection because, if they can tell us about their shortcomings first, we cannot later say that we were deceived, unwarned, or strung along.
These people are not for everyone. Many of us need softness, illusion, grey areas, and even uncertainty in our relationships where we can hide in the shadows of the unspoken and unexpressed, never really knowing others or revealing our true selves. This allows us to ease our way into and out of intimacy, vulnerability, and the sometimes harsh, blinding light of honesty.
The truth is not always kind. It is not always careful. It is not always gentle or forgiving. The truth is what it is. If we can learn to live with it and with those who wield it as both sword and shield, we will have a powerful ally who will be forever faithful, who will never let us down, and who will fight for us and protect us at all costs.
Happy birthday to my beautiful, smart, strong, and always honest wife and mother to my precious daughter.
Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.
Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.
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Meditations on God 