Friday Knight News
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy
I was feeling low after I came upon a paper written by a former student and friend with a framed certificate of appreciation addressed to me. It was acknowledging my support for his graduation from the University of Cincinnati. His paper revealed that he had been observing me and my family for several years from a distance as I was considered nontraditional by most of the folks in our neighborhood.
The late Kevin Walker: A son, brother, husband, father, friend, musician, former bail bondsman and ex-cop.
The term nontraditional was the kind way of saying I was some sort of martial art kook who wore strange hats and home-schooled my children. As he had studied karate in his youth, he understood the meaning of the word dojo in front of my school, but he was unfamiliar with the term Kaizen that preceded it.
He wrote that upon finally gathering up the courage to ask me the meaning, I revealed that it meant always improving and together it was the place you go to better yourself in mind body and spirit. In this paper he revealed that he was more than a bit skeptical about that statement but after questioning everyone that knew me, or lived near me, he decided to take some classes and find out what I was really about.
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy
He confessed that his life was a mess in every way, and he knew it when he showed up at the dojo at a whopping 287 pounds. He said that he could have been the poster child for poor health, or poor attitude and he was leading the polls in being the most miserable person around. As you can see by his photo, that he made many changes in his life.
After training with me, he mentioned that he could tell I was a very caring and compassionate man. That I truly cared about my students, and had a real peace about me. He stated that it was apparent that the peace didn't stem from monetary riches or fame, but it instead grew from knowing I was living my purpose.
He said that he had found a template that had helped him return to a spiritual and healthy personal life with his family. He wrote in some detail about my nonjudgmental encouragement and assistance in helping him adjust his lifestyle. He had noticed that education seemed very important to me and my family, and decided to follow that example as well. He interviewed me on various college assignments where he wrote about how martial arts instruction instills within individuals important tools for achieving their desired goals in life.
He had hypothesized that by the time he received his black belt he would have "it all figured out." He then wrote that his hypothesis proved to be true, he did have it all figured out in the sense that he finally realized that he didn't know as much as he thought he had about anything. He stated that he thanked God for the Kaizen Dojo sign and the man with the weird hats. That this experience had affected his entire family more than words could express; it would be impossible to repay the true dollar amount of what his training had been worth to him. He concluded by saying that he hoped to one day repay his debt by becoming the kind of master, teacher, and friend to others that I had been to him. He passed away at work not long after I had moved out of state. Reading his words are bittersweet as I feel that I had failed him in some way.
Below are links to my Kindle version books the "Dream Walker" series. 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.
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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment