Friday Knight News
"Killing is my Business and Business has been good as of late. I protect people I do not know, I take orders from people I do not like, but you can rest assured I'm willing to give my life for you tonight." Sgt. Gregory L. Cooper Ret. 0321\ 8541 (1981-1988)
Gregg Cooper wrote a forward for me in my book "Principle Based Warrior Arts" and when I came upon the words he had written about his life it reminded me of the precarious balance of life. We never know what lays just beyond the corner or what changes are going to happen. We can only hope that our influence will have a positive outcome in the long run. I know Gregg's life just about as well as one man can know another. I have seen what he and other like him who protects us endures.
He like the others who have served before him and those who have served after him have suffered pains, injuries and hurts, but such is life. Many times these protectors like Gregg continue on to be watchdogs guarding the sheep after they leave military service. Gregg was both a USMC and also a Law Enforcement Officer. This made me wonder what good have I done, this is something I often ponder; in an effort to hopefully improve upon my actions.
Today as I was preparing this post I inadvertently offended a young man with what I thought was a humorous observation. He had posted a video of some good looking kung fu drills that I assumed were one thing but I don't know they may have been something altogether different. At any rate he thought that I was being sarcastic. I tried to explain myself but I'm not sure if I made matters worse or not. Life is like that some times, no matter what we do we can end up hurting someone. I have found it best to try to be friendly and go on.
That is all we can do, life tends to be a series of situations where we affect one another. It doesn't matter if we act, react or do nothing at all we still have an affect on those around us but to what effect. I have seen this with every job that I have held from running a martial art school, law enforcement, holding government positions, management, protective services, labor and working for charities.
I remember how shocked I was as a teenager when other teens took offense at small comments or even a sideways look from others out side of our circle. My response was generally one of a peace maker, trying to keep my friends out of getting into further trouble. My parents had started out working with troubled youth when I was a small child. They were involved with various out reach programs from a church run coffee house, ministry programs on the radio, drug and gang outreach ministries and the regular hassles of being a church pastor.
So a lot of the people that I came in contact with growing up had more than their fair share of personal problems. These problems could range from troubles with the law, troubles within the home (gangs, violence, drugs), and runaways were often a result. All of which seemed to stem from their view point and fears. That is part of what drew me to the martial arts as you could see and measure the results much more easily than with counseling.
We still often defend our personal beliefs, hurts and injuries even when they are not under attack. In the martial arts once we learn to accept the pain of injury as part of training, we often find that we can learn to overcome these circumstances. The things that once hurt us even become a pleasant badge of courage to endure. Then again everything still comes down to our world view and what we are willing to sacrifice to grow.
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.
Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
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