Poems and Writings – Page 6 – One Lifetime Blog

September 22, 2014September 22, 2014

get caught at the crossroads

With each day that dawns a new adventure begins, the lifelong journey continues as we open our eyes. our mind and souls full or battle scars and the memories of those we have met along the way. The many triumphs and failures we have experienced along the way helped sculpt us into who we are today. Some of us learn from our experiences and move forward and others get caught at the crossroads living in their past mistakes.

We must focus on the path immediately in front of us not the path behind us nor too far ahead. We must live in the now, the past is gone and the future has not yet come to pass. We should learn by our past mistakes, grieve over them as we commit them and let them go.We should plan for the future but focus on the present. If we focus too much on the future we become blind to the gifts and wonders before us in the present.

With each days close we approach our time to rest and to reflect upon the day we just lived. Our adventures and our journey comes to a temporary stop. We now rest till the next day and adventure begins.

Raymond Barbier

September 14, 2014September 14, 2014

Random Thoughts 9/14/2014



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Sometimes we tend to get so wrapped up in ourselves that we can see the world outside. We get so caught up in our dreams, troubles and the stress of the daily grind and we allow so many wondrous sights to be unseen. So many moments of value we let slip by out of our tendency to be self involved. We also allow ourselves to get into a negative cycle of emotions when we become too focused only on our own life and circumstances.

As an individual we are not the center of the universe and we should realize there are others around us, and just like us they have feelings, desires and problems in their life. To be self-centered or focused only on your self is not a good way to live, it tends to keep you from experiencing so many grand things such as fellowship, friendship, family and community. We are social creatures by nature and to deny our selves of the sense of community is to deny ourselves from the main part of being alive and human.



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In the extreme sense, being selfish and self-centered is what leads to jealousy, hatred, greed, fear and eventually wars. To be humble and selfless is a better way to live, For no war has ever been started by a humble person who put others before themselves. Nor does selflessness and being humble lead to anger or fear. Worry less about keeping up with your neighbors in possessions and worry more about the guy down the road who may have no place to sleep or any food to eat. One day you could be that homeless and hungry person, for nothing in life is concrete or guaranteed.



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Though money makes life easier , it does not make one happier, nor do possessions. Love, companionship and being a part of the world we live in brings far more joy and is more permanent than riches and or fame. For money and fame are fleeting kind of like physical beauty and youth.

Well enough of my ramblings for today, May your path in life be one of contentment and compassion and may you find that which makes you truly happy in life.

God Bless

Ray Barbier

September 2, 2014September 14, 2014

Random Thoughts–9/2/2014

In modern society we seem to focus way to much on physical appearances and the social status of others. We compare the lives of those we consider celebrities to our own and many desire to be like them. What is wrong with being who you are? God made you as you are and thus you are wonderful. To be honest thee is no difference between any of us and those who have achieved fame, power or wealth. They either lucked out or found a path to their personal dreams. Many of them worked very hard to get where they are, but they are no better or worse than any other human.

Celebrities are wonderful and all, but what we lack are true heroes. We hear about an occasional few when the news media needs a human interest story, but so many are unknown and rarely noticed. What makes one a hero is the courage and determination to do what is right, the ability to transform their love and dedication something that affects the world we live in. No matter how small of an effect or how large, they make a difference.

Some Heroes are just people who chose professions where they can help change the world one mind at a time, like teachers, preachers,social workers, humanitarians and so on. Even policemen, Firemen and some politicians became what they are to help change the world they live in to a better place. There is so many professions one could choose to make a difference and be heroic in life, but it its ones heart that makes them a hero.

So if you are to celebrate a person, to see them as a mentor or role model, chose them by them not by their popularity or by their looks, power or wealth. Select those that stand for a good cause and those whom make a positive impact on the world we live in. Physical Beauty, strength fades in time, riches, social status and power in this world is temporary and tend to be short-lived. Love, act of kindness and a heroic heart not only lasts one a lifetime but it tends to become a part of all those who are influenced and/or affected by one.

One Voice, One person can change the world, for it only takes one spark to start the fire of change.

Ray Barbier

August 30, 2014August 31, 2014

Fear, faith and hope–random thoughts 8-30-2014

There are those that seek to control others with fear, they for some reason believe that instilling fear in others gives them power. The thing with fear is one can overcome it, learn to channel it and also learn to let it pass through them. The bible teaches us the only one and or thing we must fear is God. No man nor woman can destroy that which god has given you unless it be his will. So learn to replace the fear that other humans try to instill within you with faith in God and his promises. Whom shall you believe and whom shall you fear is solely your decision, God gave us that power when he gave all of us freewill.

Only God can take away your immortal soul, he is the only one that can give you access to heaven or deny you entrance as well. No man can take away the treasures you stow away in heaven, all a man or woman can do is take away the things of this earth. All things on and in this earth are temporary and no one or thing that is of this earth shall remain past their time allotted by God. So worry little over matters of the world and be as God desires, loving , forgiving and good examples of the children of God we have been created to be.

Fear has no power when confronted with Faith and Hope.

Ray Barbier

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution By license.

August 17, 2014August 17, 2014

Find contentment in what you have been blessed to have

Be humble,gentle and kind. Be at peace with yourself and with all things in your life. Stop wasting time on what ifs and self-doubt. Life is a gift , but it is one that is short. put more effort in to loving and enjoying the company of those you have been blessed to have as friends on your life’s path. All the riches and possessions in the world can not replace the love of a family member or good friend.

Find contentment in what you have been blessed to have and fall not to envy or greed. Be content and thankful for what you have , for you could have far less. Always strive to better your life , but do so humbly and not for self-satisfaction. To see yourself superior or more important than another is also saying you are above that which god has made you. For god made all of us equal, Christ through his sacrifice made us all equal in grace. Christ taught that you can only serve one master at a time, so by serving yourself you do not serve God. Reason one should be humble and be content so not to serve yourself in order to serve God wholeheartedly.

Be peaceful, humble, compassionate and full of love. Sow that which you desire to reap.

Ray Barbier

August 15, 2014August 15, 2014

Random thoughts 8-15-2014

Sometimes we seem to forget how wonderful of gift life is, we sometimes take life for granted. Thing about life is for us humans it’s not long nor is it guaranteed to be trouble-free. So we have good days, bad days and sometimes days that are unforgettable. In life we have the blessing of family and good friends, one you can not choose and the other you can not deny. Family is never perfect but you love them and they you in the end. Friends are either close or distant but both are there to help you along in life and there for you to share life with. Eventually from your friends you find a soul mate or partner to go through life with.

All the wonder and imagination we had as children doesn’t go away it just gets toned down or put away as we get older in order to fit in to society. We sacrifice some of the greatest qualities within us to be a part of society unfortunately. We hide them, put them away or tone them down to almost non-existent in order to keep from being a social outcast.

We go from innocent beings of wonder and imagination to beings of order and conformity. We sacrifice that which makes us wonderful in order to gain possessions, fame or at least acceptance by the whole. Individuality is becoming a thing of the past, more and more it seems individuality is labeled as antisocial or undesirable behavior by modern society. The interesting part of this is that most of the men and women that have changed the world through science, invention and ideals were those that society wouldn’t have embraced. They were in one way or another eccentric or nonconformist. Freewill, free thought and the freedom to be ones true self are keys to having a creative and ever-changing society.

one’s life is but a drop of water in the infinite wellspring of time, so be your true self, do not waste time being someone who you are not. Embrace the better qualities within yourself and care not about acceptance or rejection. For acceptance and rejection both are part of life, neither makes any difference to who you are or what you can do.

Live free, live compassionately and do all you do with passion. Be yourself for you are the only person like yourself, a one of a kind.

Ray Barbier

August 7, 2014August 11, 2014

foolishness disguised as principles and pride

I walk the path of life as a believer in Christ, but I do not walk the path of life with hatred or prejudice. I believe in each persons right to believe in whichever God they wish and their right to believe in none. This is called freewill and freedom of thought, no man has a right to take away this from another. We can live in peace and learn to accept the differences in each of our beliefs. I do not see myself as greater nor lesser than any other human being therefore I see all of us as equals.

I also believe wisdom has no preference of where it comes from as long as it is utilized and shared. Great people have had great wisdom from many nationalities, religions,philosophies and genders. To reject wisdom based on its origin is foolishness disguised as principles and/or pride.

I am but a fool who seeks to be wise, yet in all my foolishness, I am wise enough to see I have plenty left to learn and that this journey has just begun. What wisdom I have, I try to share. but I am wise enough to know that I am often wrong. It’s all a part of the learning process within life.

I walk my path as I believe and I do so with an extended hand of friendship to all regardless of any differences that we may have.
Ray Barbier

August 6, 2014August 9, 2014

Random Thoughts–Wednesday Aug 6, 2014

When we are young everything id new and we stand in amazement to all the wonders of the world we live in and experience. Then slowly the world we live in begins to lose its wonder or luster and we become slaves to both what our parents taught us and that which we have learned by experience. Our imagination stays as we age but our ability to play within it is either lost or repressed due to our desire to fit in and be a part of the norm. We slowly put away and suppress the child within us, the part of us that found wonder and excitement within all things around us.

When we suppress the child within us we lock away the side of us that is hopeful, creative and the side that knows how to have fun in life. Out of fear or out of the misguided belief one must kill the child within in order to be civilized and responsible we become not older but emotionally colder. We shut down the unconditional fun-loving heart full child god made us.

Yes we must put away childish things but we do not have to put away the part of the child within us that makes us who we are. Innocence does have to leave us for that is the nature of the world, we do have to be responsible, but this does not mean we can not be loving, caring,curious,creative and fun-loving like we were as children.

It is the child within us that loves life, it is the side that sees life is a blessing and full of wonder and which is thankful for the gift of life. So be the responsible adult who can see the world through a child’s eyes and love life and others through a heart like that of a child’s.

Ray Barbier

June 27, 2014June 27, 2014

I write because I love to, I write because that is who I am.

Why do I write? hmmmm…. Well I write for many reasons including to inspire independent thought, to share the message of peace, love and understanding to the world, to express my inner self, to soul search and to bring about change in myself as well as others and last but not least to spread the word of God. I am not a typical Christian author nor am I a closed-minded person. I do not judge anyone one way or another for I do not see that as my job nor my place in the world. I try to convey the message of being unconditional in the sharing of love and in forgiveness. Sometimes I write just so I can be, it seems writing to me is one facet of the many that is my existence.

Sometimes I write well, others times I do not. I write what I feel and think with no hesitation. I don’t claim to be right nor do I claim to know what I am talking about. I just claim that what I write is how I see the world as well as what I think about it all. I welcome all comments even those that challenge my point of view or my beliefs. I also am open to new ideas and philosophies.

I write because I love to, I write because that is who I am.

Ray Barbier

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

Just a fool with his folly

You can call me a dreamer, an occasionally and accidental visionary or just a fool with his folly. I’m just a silly old man with a dream of a better world or at least a better way of living in it. I may be wrong often and right on a rare occasion but at least I dare to dream and to express what is within my heart and soul. I ponder on old ideas that at times seem new and new ideas that came from old ones. I claim nothing other than I am a man and a dreamer.

I dislike injustice and all the things in this world that bring it about. I see everyone and thing that is alive as precious and I do not embrace the notion one person is greater than another. We all are equal, just we all have different gifts and shortcomings. Few things we all do have in common is our wish to survive along with our desire for our children to have a better life and world to live in. Regardless of Nationality, Religion,Race, sex or even lifestyle we all want a happier and safer world for our children to live in. For the children are our future and they also are our common point of interest.

I am far from perfect and even further from being wise, but I do the best with what gifts I have been given in my life. I am but a silly old man who dares to dream and to express his heartfelt thoughts and ideas.

Ray Barbier