Fire Walker

There are many obstacles strewn in the way
between you and your heart's desire.
Some have been put there to test you.
Others serve to make the winning sweeter.
By overcoming all that stands in your way,
you show not only determination, achievement and talent.
You show courage.

True courage comes from deep within.
It speaks of your confidence in your own abilities
and the knowledge that you can do anything you want to do.
Courage tells you that the destination is worth the journey.
It provides you with the ability to focus
on your goal and not on the pit of fire in your path.
Courage lifts you over the fire.

Courage is the twin brother of faith,
for without one, the other would be squandered.
Without courage, faith is but a state of mind.
Faith with courage will move mountains.
Without faith, courage is false bravado and show.
Coupled with faith, courage can change your world.
You have both in abundance.

I have walked beside you and felt your strength of purpose.
I have sensed that you have your course and goals
firmly set in your sights. You have the world at your feet,
yet you have the courage to meet each person as your equal.
Your example has shone on thousands of lives who will each
draw from your courage and strength and be much better for it.
You could walk on the sun.

Your spirit soars as if aloft,
set free from doubt and care,
so far from where you started off.
To win you first must dare.

To dare to stretch beyond your zone
of comfort is the key.
Decide to dare it on your own
to be all you can be.

A mind once stretched beyond its realm
cannot regain its form.
So start today and take the helm
and reach beyond the norm.

Then day by day make progress to
your chosen, cherished goal ...
a brighter, more successful you ...
a life under control.

And with each step the journey grows
to heights which you'll aspire.
Stay on the upward path you chose
and dare to take it higher.

You cast a spell when e'er you speak
and hold us in such thrall.
So soft and kind, but never meek.
The wonder of it all!

You speak of love, in caring ways
and of the Golden Rule.
It takes us back to simpler days
like when we were in school.

You touch each one who listens to
the words you have to say.
In how you work and what you do,
your vision lights the way.

We do not idolize or place
you up on high and bow.
You walk among us, face to face
both in the here and now.

It moves us though, when your are in
our midst and say our name.
A stirring comes from deep within
and we are not the same.

You are a legend, yet it seems
irrelevant to you.
Too busy touching people's dreams
and making them come true.

Life is a ladder.
Each step is an accomplishment which delivers you
to the place where you can begin to mount the next.
You cannot leap from the bottom to the top without
making the journey, step by step, rung by rung.

Each step is unique.
When you rise to the top of one accomplishment,
you can always be sure of the certain fact that another
chance to excel awaits you. You may build momentum
on your climb to the top, but each challenge is unique.

Some will slow you.
Some accomplishments will be more daunting than others.
But the truth is that they are ones most worth winning.
Take each step as it comes and give it the time it needs.
Just be sure that you are always headed upwards.

Some you'll want to skip.
You may be tempted to take steps two at a time.
Of course, you will need more energy and there is
the very real chance that you'll misjudge, trip and fall.
Each step is there to prepare you for what's coming next.

Each one is a new beginning.
When we face the next step in our lives, it's a new beginning.
We must use what we learned on the way, but cannot coast on
our accomplishments thus far. Life is a long ladder that
must be climbed step by difficult step, for God lives at the top.