Waves of uncertainty
crash upon me
battering me against
the reef of doubt
and despair
the winds of wordly desires
toss me to and fro
driving me back
to the shores of emptiness
and familiarity
but you call me forth
into the vast unknown
if only I will walk in faith
upon the waters of love
floating upon a promise
once made and never broken
UPON A PROMISE
By Robert Van Valkenburgh
Meditations of a Gentle Warrior
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Being around is not the same as being present.
Love, if it is not some hollow sentiment, is inextricably tied to duty.
Love is a promise that requires action in order to be demonstrated, proven, and fulfilled.
Love’s claim is a debt owed. It is a pledge of time, both in quantity and quality. It is the assurance of presence, attention, and engagement regardless of, or even in spite of, inconvenience.
To say that we love another person is to imply that we are doing something to love them. They do not have to notice it. They do not have to reciprocate. They are not the ones making the claim. We are.
If our love is more than just a feeling or a word, we must behave in a way that is loving.
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 