My name is Bryant McGill. I am a simple person who loves to write, think and enjoy what life has to offer. My first priority and joy in the world is that of being a father and husband.
I do not consider myself to be famous, or a celebrity. There all types and degrees of notoriety, and mine is minor compared to many. I have been fortunate enough to have had a few million people read my various works, and even a hundred-thousand or so use my references for writers, but in the grand scale of things I am just a tiny and insignificant writer of inspirational essays, poetry and references, with a modest following. No matter the number, I am so grateful to all of those who take their time to read what I present. Those who take the time to judge me by the content of my writings will understand that I have a very simple and humble message to share. My work is about real people, relationships and experiences that we can all learn from. My quest as a writer is certainly not about me, for I am far too unimportant. I am just a student of the world; a minuscule, and frail embodied consciousness struggling to understand, and be a meaningful part of this great, mysterious play of life, which is set on the stage of our baffling home in the universe.
I enjoy reading, thinking, trying new things, learning, creating, sharing and meeting interesting people. I enjoy being alive. I have had the unique and humbling privilege to meet, interview and get to know as close friends, numerous top personalities, intellects and achievers throughout the world. I have also had the honor to hear stories and learn from ordinary people from nearly every part of the globe. Like my writings, I too am a work in progress. I realize that I am an infinitesimal speck of frailty and vice. My work is often clumsy, and reflects the true splintered weakness of my emotions; sometimes loving, sometimes selfish, sometimes compassionate, and sometimes cruel. As an artist I have a lot to learn. I believe that every person is precious, and inside, we are still like little children who yearn for acceptance, unconditional love and the gentle, warm affection that can only come from another soul who is whole enough, and generous enough to reach out, and give the gift of acceptance and compassion. I would like to be such a person, and am therefore reaching out with a hope that I could bring some degree of happiness to other human beings.
I am a person who is not afraid to love people, or to tell them how I feel. I am a very caring person, and I easily feel for people and their situations. I find inspiration in the random acts of kindness between strangers, and especially when I witness a gesture of selflessness touch and heal someone in pain. Like in Braveheart, when William Wallace, whose actions just caused his new wife's death, kneels in front of her father at her funeral, and bows his head in humility and shame. The father looks down at him, with his fist clutched tight and trembling with rage, but then in that magic moment, his hand opens, and he reaches out and places his hand on William Wallace's head as he lets go of his rage, and his heart turns from hate to forgiveness. I think about such moments of kindness and compassion like that all the time. I think about them every day. I think that single act may be man's most amazing accomplishment on this Earth. I believe in the overwhelming goodness of most people. The gifts of love and kindness are forces that have the power to change and heal people. How we treat other people can and does change them; equally so, how we treat ourselves can change us.
I work hard to be a good person. It really depends on your world view, and how you define a person, but to me a person is not just the physical body, or the talk; to me a person is defined by their actions. And being social creatures, outside of our own useless self-image, the only proof that we exist resides in the minds of other people we change with our actions. So, I constantly ask myself, "How do I change people?" I want to change people for the better, and have my existence proved by the raised hands of the people I have met, who will say without doubt I have cared.
I credit my inner-strength, survival and love for other people to my Grandfather. He was a loving and affectionate man who taught me how to love others through example. He was the most important person in my life. He has passed away and I miss him dearly. When I was a child he would say, "come and give papa a kiss." I saw the love in his eyes. I would frequently swim in his pool on hot Southern summer days, and often times he would walk several acres from the main house to the pool, carrying a plate of crackers, summer sausage, smoked cheese and some iced pink lemonade for his Grandson. His love made all of the difference in the world to me. I have worked hard to heal my soul from the less fortunate experiences in my life, and have learned many lessons about compassion and forgiveness. I worked most of my life trying to find compassion and forgiveness for myself. I am happy and fulfilled now, but things were not always so.
Some little things about me are: I am constantly amazed at how creative and funny people can be. I like listening to people. I do not watch TV. I only sleep a few hours a night. I am a recluse, and sometimes go months without leaving the house. I believe all people are capable of great things. I am not a person of unlimited means. Like most people, I have worked very hard for everything I have, and my most valuable asset is my time, which I believe is one of the best things a person can own. Time to enjoy my family, time to learn, time to share with friends, time to enjoy life, and time to strive to make the lives of others more enjoyable.
Like most people, even the ones that don't know, I have been carried where I am by the currents of life. I have one oar in the water, and do what I can against the rushing forces that surround me, but I know that I am mostly just along for the ride.
Best wishes from a fellow traveler.
A Gift Giver's Manifesto
If you want to be successful at anything you do, it will help you to first be a successful human. That's right; a successful human. And just what is that? I believe that since human life is a social life, becoming a successful human means being there for other people, which is why I have always believed that no time is better spent than that spent in the service of your fellow man. Further, success does not mean happiness, success means doing the right thing. The rewards of doing the right thing are usually much deeper and painful. The greatest happiness comes from feeling and expressing our love for other people, and particularly our families. If you think about it, we love most those who we serve most, whether it be children, employees, friends or our communities. And this means that we can bring about a greater love for one another, though a life of simple, but meaningful service, and this is precisely what being a Gift Giver will do for those we can educate about the unlimited potentials for success through service.
When John Donne contemplated the indelible inter-connectedness of humanity in Meditation XVII, saying that, "No man is an island," he was speaking to you and me. Irrespective of Ayn Rand's eminent and highly influential tributes to individualism, and the power of self-determination through her unforgettable Randian heroes, John Donne's grounding toll to reason struck a long lasting chord in us all when he wrote, "All mankind is of one author, and is one volume...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
Donne's bell is tolling for us all right now. When we fail our friends and neighbors, and even the stranger down the way, through our vanity, selfishness, greed, envy, fear, indifference, or complacency; when we fail to even know about, or acknowledge someones suffering, which is in obvious sight, much less attempt to ease it, the world is truly made a darker place, and Donne's bell tolls louder, while something dies in us all. The failure of that individual to act represents an atomic failure of humanity itself. The world markets of optimism and hope can plummet, because of the actions or inactions of a single person. Russell Crowe's character Maximus said in Gladiator, "What we do in this life, Echoes into Eternity." Clearly what we do not do can have the same effect. The upside to this, and there is always an upside, is that the good works of even one person can represent the whole of humanity's triumph through that sole heroic act. One person really can make a difference, and a difference that can seismically move through the masses, transforming an entire ethos practically overnight; a cultural and emotional butterfly effect if you like. Look at the enormous impact Gandhi had on two violently clashing countries with his simple, and frail embodied spiritual exercises of selflessness, loving other people and valuing human life. And that was even without the power of media to move his ideas around quickly. One person can make a difference, and you need not look to icons like Gandhi to find people making a difference.
Above, I mentioned the world markets of optimism and hope. There are many types of currency, not the least of which is a system of emotional and trust economics that govern societies, both primitive and modern. These economics govern every relationship, whether it be between individuals, or nations. In fact, money as we know it does not really exist. Think about it. Money is just a piece of paper, and outside of our dynamic and collective consent it has no value beyond the value of the paper it is printed on. The only reason money has value is because we all agree that it does. So ironically, money can be seen as a placeholder for of all things -- trust. Humorously, while still accurate, you could say "In God We Trust," is printed on our money, because you hope to God that when you go to redeem that worthless piece of paper (or its digital representation in an account) that the recipient will honor its value with real world goods and services at a fair exchange. The key point here is there is more trust in the world that we may think, even during our most cynical hours. When you fully accept that money is a placeholder for trust, you must realize also, that there is a lot of trust in the world, and this offers us something to build on. In a relationship, when trust is lost, everything is lost. We can become emotionally bankrupt, or even in debt. To make money one must spend money. And this is why it is important that we invest in people, whose personal accounts of hope and optimism are low.
There are so many people in need, who quietly are hovering near the abysmal edges of emotional bankruptcy. Life is dynamic, and it can be ugly. Thomas Hobbes said in Leviathan that life was, "...solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." And, Henry David Thoreau wrote in Walden that, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I must sadly admit that this seems to be the case for too many people. This is one of the reasons I believe too many people anesthetize themselves with a never-ending, glutinous consumption of mass entertainment, television and fruitless consumerism. Most people do not do these things because they're living life, they do these things because they're hiding from life. If you are lonely when you are alone, you are in poor company, and many people are poor in the deepest and most internal sense. They will do anything to avoid being left alone with their thoughts; being left alone to Thoreau's quiet desperation, or worn down by the unforgiving and brutish world spoke of by Hobbes. They are teetering on emotional bankruptcy, and though they do not realize it, they are living with the haunting, but quiet realization that they are not answering the calls for help from their fellow man. They have a nagging feeling that they have not yet experienced all of what life has to offer. They want more in their relationships; more money and more success. They try to force these things, and when they do not materialize, they become negative and pessimistic. The harder they try, the further away the things they want seem to move. They do not realize that all things come through other people. It is counterintuitive for them to hear that you get most things in life you want not by taking them, but by giving. Giving is the key to all success in all applications of human life. Giving is not a physical action; giving is a philosophy, and a way of living life. There are endless opportunities to give the smallest things that cost us nothing, but mean the world to other people. Money and time are not the only things we can give. We can give others appreciation, patience, compassion, courtesy, kindness, dependability, friendship, forgiveness, gratitude, honesty, loyalty, respect, tolerance and of course love.
For example let's look at just one of these; courtesy. Courtesy is a powerful and amazing gift to give. Courtesy is a silver lining around the dark clouds of civilization; it is the best part of refinement and in many ways, an art of heroic beauty in the vast gallery of man's cruelty and baseness. Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred, and a polite enemy is just as difficult to discredit, as a rude friend is to protect. Mastering courtesy alone will enhance your life and the lives of others. We can give a tired clerk a kind and understanding glance. We can give a frustrated driver a spot in line on the road. We can give a hopeful passerby a kind smile and wave. We can speak to people at all stations of life with respectful and polite words and tones. We can wait with one item in the grocery line behind someone with a full cart with a gentle smile, and body language that makes their day better. When we want to talk, we can instead listen, and let our attentiveness to another's need to speak be our silent statement. All of these simple, but powerful gifts have immense value to the person receiving them, and all are examples of an overarching philosophy of giving and service that we can each apply in our lives every day. Simply by thinking about something other than ourselves, and by monitoring our behaviors with a pure and selfless intent of making the lives of other people better, we have the privileged opportunity to change them for the better. This is what being a Gift Giver is all about.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, we all have a debt to the society we live in. If we want to succeed in society at anything, we must first pay our debt to society. But here is the most important part; our debt never ends. We must pay it each and every day for the rest of our lives. Once you realize this, no matter your philosophical, or religious framework, whether it be the golden rule of Christianity, the humanist view of biochemical inducement of self-preservation through the sociological laws of reciprocity, the "Mystical Law" of Karma (the universal law of ethical causation), Confucian Shu reciprocity, good old horse sense of the law of the harvest, or any other world-view construct of the same truth, life will start working for you rather than against you. Life has a way of shining on people who stand in the sunshine of kind actions. But you can't fake it. It has to come from the heart, with a true spirit of giving and selflessness. A talent is no talent, unless it is used for the benefit of other people. Even if you consider your talents a blessing, they will be quickly used against you in a Newtonian reversal if you do not properly use your precious gifts for the benefit of others. For a brief period in this ephemeral existence, we have the privilege to share time with other people, and serve them, and their needs. The greatest joys in life are found not only in what we do and feel, but also in our quiet hopes and labors for others. I have written before, that as with people, the trees that are pruned, watered and nurtured by caring hands bear the greatest fruits. It is critical to know that it works both ways. If you personally have not been served by caring hands in your own life, do not be bitter, but instead, ask yourself who you can now serve. If you have had some tough times in life, now more than ever is the time to make someone else's life better. How we treat other people can, and does change them, and how we treat others is in fact part of how treat ourselves, which changes us. To me a person is defined by their actions. And being social creatures, outside of our own useless self-image, the only proof that we exist resides in the minds of other people we change with our actions. So, ask yourself, "How do I change people?" I want to change people for the better, and I want to have my existence proved by the raised hands of the people I have met, who will say without doubt that I have cared.
Where wise actions are the fruit of life, wise discourse is the pollination. But this message is only talk. To be of value to us all, these ideas need to be made real in the world. We should speak to protect the ideals of goodness, and act to make them real in the world. The first proves a consummate mind, the second a valorous heart. It is my belief that true progress for humanity is anything that takes us closer to loving one another. Small acts of kindness between you and the individuals around you are are the germination that spring into being something as mysterious as life itself, and what may in fact be man's greatest accomplishment; compassion for others. It is my hope that we can all grow in one another a deeper and more meaningful desire to ease the burdens others. Every person is a precious gift, and we are all like little children who yearn for acceptance, safety, unconditional love and the gentle-warm affection that can only come from another soul who is whole enough, and generous enough to reach out, and give the gift of acceptance and compassion. I would like to be such a person, and am therefore reaching out with a hope that I could bring some degree of happiness to other human beings.
Many people are now sensing that something important is happening in the world. People are talking, and they "feel" something; they are picking up on something they cannot articulate, but they know it is there. Let's define it before it gets here. Please join me and other good-spirited people around the world in our deepest and most sincere desire to share our own unique gifts. Become a Gift Giver, and set into motion a life of service, with other caring people, who will leave in the wake of their good deeds the waves of promise, and hope that will cover the vast waters of any shallow doubt. We carry within us the enormity of possibility that has created everything man has made in the world. Let us now yearn for the possibility of building a happiness in every heart. Let us now build inward, a new world of hope, where our greatest achievements are counted as the the simple acts that reap heartfelt tears from the people who have touched, and been touched by the caring hands of other people bearing precious gifts.
An uncle
by Bryant H. McGill, July of 1993
(Dedicated to Uncle Mickey)
An uncle is a very special man, A father's brother's blood, A woven line of family name, Both sewn from seeds of love
Their children too, all heirs the same, Fulfilling legacy's call, Their blood as one from two forth sprang, So spreads the roots of all
This simple truth of bloodline fire, No greater gift is known, Than knowing why our hearts aspire, To forever cherish our own
Antiquity of Autumn
Become the Powerful Change the World Needs to be Healed
I have come to realize we cannot change a person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves. Through a long study of the concepts of empowerment and transformation, I have concluded that INTENTION is paramount. Intention is the foundation of ALL inner and outer institutions of man. It is the basis of legal and judicial systems, all human contracts, and rests at the root of all innovation and progress.
Your intentions define YOU. People are more than just response to stimuli, for they have the power to make decisions that reject the superficial 'rewards' of yielding to positive consequences. Many people have sacrificed themselves to fates that clearly were not congruent with self-interest by possessing intentions greater than the self. Thusly, deterministic or divine, intention is the seed-germ of all change, and can defy all environments. According to many theologians, the judgment of "the intentions of our hearts" by God upon our very soul is predicated upon our innermost intentions. According to philosophers and, now even scientists, intention is the foundation of numerous quantum physical, and metaphysical universal laws. Intention is the primary concern of all individuals, the collective, the state, and all judgments worldly and purportedly beyond. Both prayer and meditation are explicit forms of manifesting intention. In short, intention is the only pathway to the future we will likely ever know.
Many people feel powerless. But, one freedom that no influence, power, city, state, government, group, consequence or intimidation can reach to gird, is the sovereign soul's ability to think, and consequently react to the situations of life. The most elemental root of our thoughts; the underlying structure upon which our complex ideals and knowledge stands is our basic intention. Propagandists, research scientist and consumer psychologist work steadily to pry into "black box" of free agency and thought, but thankfully individual sovereignty, and the indomitable will of man has not yet been bridled, or entirely broken, and we still have relatively free minds, IF WE CHOOSE.
As individuals, it may seem we are not able to control or change the world, but through our willful intentions we may at least escape the culpability of our own complicit minds and hearts. When we internally oppose oppression, or any force that would usurp individual sovereignty, we thusly lift our hands from the collective reigns that empower such oppressions. We have the power to oppose, and therefor, not be party to what we see as injustice, EVEN if we belong to a collective that perpetuates the injustice. This is the liberating and defining power of intention.
Through our intentions; a place no power can influence, we have the power to oppose. The terrible atrocities in the world require more from each of us than a regret-filled acknowledgment they exist; they require our most earnest intentions be focused on their immediate eradication. To do this we must first have conscious awareness that it must change. Once our 'rightful intention' is set and no longer accepts, we will in time begin to see the change as the collective mind rejects the injustice.
The one and only true freedom we ALL posses is what we think; and our intentions govern what we think.
We all feel that we cannot change the world alone, but as a free soul on earth we can express our intentions to NOT live in a world, where some humans, have in fact been reduced to nothing more than mere vessels of pain. We DO NOT have to be victimized by the ugliness in the world any longer. An incubus of ignorance, fear, hunger, oppression and intolerance haunts large regions of the world, and I have no delusions that I am immune. I refuse to forget that I too am human, that I too am frail, that we all are subject to such miseries, and that in time we shall all be subject to frailty and suffering personally.
Will you acknowledge with me, that everything we have created in the world started as a tiny intention? We carry within us the enormity of possibility that gave birth to everything man has made in the world. Let us now yearn for the possibility of building a happiness in every heart. Let us now build inward, a new world of hope, a world of limitless possibilities for the children of tomorrow, where each soul can reach the heights of their potential to love, and to be loved.
We have the power to set our intentions on the betterment our world. The very "least" among us has the enormous power to effect change through small and intended acts of determination and will. We can each immediately liberate ourselves as victims in the world, through solidifying an 'intent' to act; 'intent' to forgive; intent to love; 'intent' to be virtuous, polite and empathetic. Then with that 'intention' set into motion through the simplest first actions, we will begin to liberate ourselves from victimization, thereby creating an entirely new perspective and future. Our divine intention is to love, to be loved, to feel safe in this world and to each know our purpose. We have the power to choose these virtues, rather than choosing violence, rage, anger, revenge, greed, and other base impulses of the lesser-self without purpose. We may know our true purpose in life, because we may choose our purpose in life.
Through my expressed intentions, I hereby declare that my purpose, which will be, and is now at this very moment being fulfilled is to rise above my own indifference, and irrevocably declare, that I CHOOSE to have a true, heartfelt compassion and empathy for my fellow man. Through my INTENTIONS, I will stand erect, defiant and without shame to declare, that IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The beginning of all power starts with your intention the very moment you choose to no longer accept the 'reality' you see before you. Do not underestimate the power in an individuals commitment to harness the power of their intention, which is a way for ALL people to be powerful. Express your intentions now, and become the powerful change the world needs to be healed.
Begot of the ash
by Bryant H. McGill, April of 1994
Born of the ash, Bloom of the dust Fires of the soul, Colors of rust
Bloom of the born, Rust blood red And the gray noon bright, Of the colors of dead…
Break the Chains of Blame
by Bryant H. McGill, December of 2004
Do not forget the others That host of fellow men Cousins, sisters brothers Though different still we're kin
No man knows the design Or the reasons for our difference Let's accept and thus resign This very harmful pretense
We can build from our strengths They needn't be the same Breaking all the weakest links That chain us to our blame
We can then make honest choices About the ways in which we live And listen to brave new voices That freely, take and give
Consuming all til all is done
by Bryant H. McGill, February of 2004
They love the greedy harlot's hand They love the selfish gaping grin They love the murderous natural man They love the supple, silky skin
They taste the baby, budding fruit They gulp the green-leafed tender bud They taste the sour, shadowed root They drink the darkest demon's blood
They consume the world, their own estate They do not love their children one Their own flesh, the thing they hate Consuming all 'til all is done
Cosmic Opal - The Queen of all Gemstones
Country Road PASSAGE
Deep Within the Roots Decend
Dreams from the Past - Native American Vision
“A quick sketch from a dream I had about Native Americans”
Dusty Shoes
by Bryant H. McGill, September of 1987
There sitting on a table, lined up together, and paired off in twos
A silent story was told, for a quarter they sold, they were old, and worn, empty shoes
As I looked at them I saw the blood, sweat and strife, The bitter moments of life, With the love, joy, and good things too.
And somehow in that moment, I felt inexperienced, and humbled, by this old man I would never know,
And his dusty old shoes…
Eight Point Cosmic Blossom of Birth
Flight of the Doves
by Bryant H. McGill, December of 2004
Whisking flurries of beating wings Stunning sight to the eye Smiles are set upon such things To the grace upon they fly
And in the winds from there to thither High in places men can know Upon a wing, no trick or tether As the fickle flake of snow
While to the pace of beating hearts With a rush the wings they thrust Up they lift their form to art Wanton men to envy must
And from these beauties for all men Hope abides in their flight That man could soar to such ends In peace their bosom could ignite
How Scant the Sheaves
Humbling Human Divisions by Bryant McGill
I AM FACISIM
by Bryant H. McGill, September of 2004
I have heard the rumors and whispering of discontentment I have seen the shaking, angry fists and pointing fingers I have felt the hot breath of heavy arguments raging I have tasted the bitterness of nations divided by ethos
And... I know the joys that set the roots of longing in your past I feel the desperation in your pleas for promise and hope I sense the anxiety as you hold tightly onto the present I believe in your worthy longsuffering to shape the future
For… You're the split bodies that bathed distant shores to bloody red You're the American born, baptized, and married dressed in white You're the brave hands that held the stars on waving fields of blue You're the hope that freedom's banner would never lose its color
Yet… I will blow down your sacred edifices of long traditions I will flood your highest towers of hope and progress I will freeze still the warm affection flowing for your countrymen I will burn your paper cities to the ground with a thought
For… I am the inquisition of faith and religious hope for your salvation I am the drummer marching through the streets to lift you high I am the movement for your human rights and progression I am the new face, walking an old path, to the same place!
I See the Flower of Kim Chun-su
I shall speak his name, Kim Chun-su, like that spoken of the flower.
Now, no more than a mere whisper; will he come to me - in my heart, and become my flower?
Can you see him now, hiding in the mountains so far away, And can you hear his whispers, in the surf of southern Korea?
Forget everything you thought you knew about him, forget what you think you know now, your belief, that is he gone -
Let us not believe in those ideas, but believe only in this moment.
His poetry of no meaning a pure thought of the true meaning, now speak his name with me and become his flower
Kim Chun-su a golden, happy child of Chungmu who became something to you and I
What we all wish to become an unforgettable gaze Can you see him?
Interview for Lisa Tenzin-Dolma's Book, Mind & Motivation
MIND & MOTIVATION: THE SPIRIT OF SUCCESS guides you step by step through an enthralling journey to the deepest, most potent aspects of yourself, and encourages you to discover new ways of enriching your life. Each chapter explores a quality that you can tap into and develop, and includes practical exercises aimed at enabling you to understand who you are, what you truly wish for, and how you can achieve this.
The chapters explore: A Sense of Purpose, Motivation, Dealing With Challenges, Evolution, Innovation, Creativity, Inspiration, Success, and Creating Your Reality.
Traveling alongside you with each chapter are nine people who are experts in their chosen fields in the arts, sciences and psychology. Each of these share their inspirational, motivational and revealing personal stories of how they attained their goals. Their message is that you too can dream large and follow the path that leads to an understanding of your unique gifts and inner purpose.
Interviewees are: Peter Russell (physicist, psychologist and author), Michael Eavis (founder of The Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts), Willard Wigan (micro-sculptor), Peter Ulrich (musician, formerly of cult band Dead Can Dance), Dr. Sam Parnia (Founder of Horizon Research Foundation and author), Colin Wilson (prolific author), Dr. Jean Houston (founder of the Foundation for Mind Research, author, and member of UNICEF), Bryant McGill (Author, Syndicated Radio Host and Goodwill Ambassador for Peace), and Joanne Harris (author whose books include Chocolat, which is also a Hollywood movie).
MIND & MOTIVATION will soon be published by Phoenix Rising Press, and details of where you can find the book will be given on this page shortly.
1. Have you always had a strong sense of purpose? And what do you feel your purpose is in this life?
I have always had a strong sense of purpose, though my understanding of my purpose has continually deepened over the years. It has moved from the outer-realm of control, materialism and ego in my youth, to the inner-realm of surrender, spirituality, and compassion. In this context surrender is not a weakness, or state of inaction. Surrender is a powerful state of pure energy; the energy of becoming your true purpose.
To say it another way, the art of surrender is the art of getting out of the way of your own growth. My greater purpose is already written in the fabric of my being. My purpose awaits my arrival. I do not, and will not strive to become my greater purpose. Does a flower strive to become a flower; to radiate its delicate, colorful beauty, or to smell so sweet? I have defeated most of my ego; I have conquered myself and released the illusion of control. I have a photo of myself as a child on my desk with a caption that reads, "Who I want to be when I grow up." I am now in a free fall toward my destiny of a grand reunion with my original-self; a self uncorrupted by the world's false lessons of fear and control.
My true purpose is to become my own unique self, and to do so in happiness, free from fear. At one level I am different from any person alive and from any person who has ever lived, and yet at another level we are all the same. I am a unique and beautiful expression of the divine gift of life and creation. I will not squander the gift of life! I will continue to rise above my own indifference, and CHOOSE to have a true, heartfelt compassion and love for others. I will reach deep inside, and give each person I encounter the gift of myself. No shame, no fear, no regrets, no need for approval, no cynicism, no doubts, no anger; just love.
2. Did you have a route mapped out at an early age, or did you set out on one path and then discovered other branches of that path that you felt compelled to follow?
From a very early age I knew I had a purpose, but my worldview was far too narrow to comprehend the implications of my plans. I had many plans mapped out at an early age. I even created a 30 year plan at the age of 22, which surprisingly is still valid and useful! The most important thing for me has been an overarching plan to not waste my life.
3. You have a great many diverse interests and a tremendous creative output. What stimulates you most, and why?
I love to create. I do not believe in creation for the sake of creation, but rather for creating more joy, beauty and optimism in an often ugly world. I am most stimulated when I tap into what I call the "creator energy." I believe that every person carries the power of creation inside of themselves. They are like superheroes walking around with undiscovered powers. The power of creation that each person possesses is the most awesome force in our universe. What we create individually and collectively is a mirror of what is in our hearts. Our creations are the outward expressions of our inner truths. Everything on Earth under the dominion of humanity is a bounty or bane of the hearts of humankind. Everything we see represents the fruits of choice, time and pressure. Governments, institutions, economies, science, media, technology, philosophy, poverty; everything is a state-of-mind and a creation of choice.
In my work I choose to strive to cultivate and accentuate the positive, and resist indulging in negativity. In my mind the existence of negativity is no excuse to place those horrors upon a pedestal for entertainment or endless meditation. There are enough negative feedback loops in the world without creating more. I am most fulfilled when I am creating beauty and fostering greater hope for others.
4. Are there any particular times when you feel especially connected or "plugged in"? If so, what sparks off that feeling of connection and "rightness"?
Feeling and understanding the "oneness" with others has been an important part of my growth, and has been an enabling force in my life. I once was shut off from others and took pride in my independence. I know now that this was only arrogance. I have come to the conclusion that the stranger on the street and I are the same. We are all on the same path, we are just in different places on the path. I know I am in a good place when I look at another person and see an entity just like me; a person who is desirous and worthy of joy and fulfillment. Even people who are judgmental and mean to me remind me of a former self, and so I will not judge them, but will offer my hand in friendship, and wait for them.
There is not a person on Earth who has trespassed upon me, or whom I have trespassed upon, that I would not accept back into friendship in earnest intent. I am just like every person. I am you. We are not different, we are the same. What we do to others we do to ourselves. So, I will lift you up and be your friend. I will not judge you and I will easily forgive. Will you forgive me when I fail? I know I am in the right place when my answer to that question is yes.
5. When you explore all elements of your creativity, and integrate these, what effects do you notice or feel?
I intentionally express my creativity in areas where I have no real pronounced talent. I explore music, art in many forms, writing poetry, programming, business building, inventing, making jewelry, singing, dancing and numerous other creative outlets. I believe we are all natural creators. So I try not to hold myself to any unreasonable standard, such as having talent! Why should not being "good" at something stop me from doing it? I don't have to be skilled at photorealistic painting to create art. When I create, I don't think about how my creations will be judged. I create as a simple expression of childlike joy. What comes through me cannot be bound by talent; it is an expression of something greater than myself. Like many things, you can learn a great deal from children in this area. The simple joys of creation, discovery and exploration are enough for me. The judging I will leave to others.
By exploring different facets of my creativity I tap into a broader spectrum of potential and understanding. It helps me realize there are no limits, and that is where I live, in a world totally free from limitations. Poverty is a state of mind, and it is through positive creativity that I have discovered true wealth at many levels.
6. What, to you, is most rewarding about your life and work? And what are the aims that you set out to achieve? (Feel free to mention specific projects you're involved in or working on if you wish to).
The most rewarding thing about my life and work is that I am alive and have the knowledge that I can effect the world in positive ways. I am also very blessed that I get to meet so many interesting people. I love learning from people, and teaching people that good things are still possible. I am overjoyed by the discovery that we are each powerful creators. I love sharing the fact that we do not have to be victimized by the ugliness in the world any longer. I refuse to accept that world. There is a new world waiting for us all. I love to ask people what they would attempt to do if they knew they could not fail, and then share with them that it is impossible to fail. Humanity has never once failed at bringing into the world what was in their hearts; never once! It is just a matter of choosing what to hold in your heart, and the rest is as they say, "history."
My primary mission in life is to advocate greater goodwill and peace. Peace is desirable at all levels, is it not? It is desirable in the world, in our countries, in our cities, in our own homes, in our relationships, and even in our inner-selves. Peace is worth considering and accessible through education, and by choice. There can be no peace in the grizzly presence of poverty or excess; two equally abominable monsters. Peace is a state of humility and surrender, and goodwill and harmony exist only as a voluntary acts. They cannot be enforced, coerced, or sanctioned. Like love, peace is fickle, transient and mysterious. It must be desired, fostered, nurtured and protected. From now, until the day I die, I am committing my time and energy to a simple mission of demonstrating greater goodwill and peace is possible. The peace project I am working on carries with it a message of hope through oneness. Every life is precious. Let us subdue the ravages of our baser-self, and aspire to the higher calling of exalting joy through compassion, for that is the one true purpose of humanity.
You can find out more at: www.goodwilltreaty.org
7. You have founded charities, and give away a great deal of your work for free, which is unusual in a world that is largely governed by a desire for material gain. Please could you say what motivates you to do this?
Simply stated I believe in the concept of paying forward. Whether we acknowledge it or not, and as I have written before, we all have a debt to the society we live in. If we want to succeed in society at anything, we must first pay our debt to that society. But, here is the most important part; our debt never ends. We must pay it each and every day for the rest of our lives. Once you realize this, no matter your philosophical, or religious framework, whether it be the golden rule of Christianity, the humanist view of biochemical inducement of self-preservation through the sociological laws of reciprocity, the "Mystical Law" of Karma (the universal law of ethical causation), Confucian Shu reciprocity, or any other world-view construct of the same truth, life will start working for you rather than against you. Life has a way of shining on people who stand in the sunshine of kind actions. But you can't fake it. It has to come from the heart, with a true spirit of giving and selflessness.
Some people feel that when you produce something without apparent compensation you are being used by others. I think they are missing the point. Being used by others is one of the greatest honors you can experience; to be *use*ful. In today's busy world of information overload, for people to stop, pay attention and find value in what I have to share is often times payment enough.
At the same time, there is no nobility in poverty and we can best help others from a position of strength, not weakness. I am worthy of material gain and shall have it. Money is totally unimportant to me, which is why I need, and will have an unlimited amount of it. However, to me, not all things should be materially profitable. I do what I can to make my money in other areas that are not as sacred to me as my life's higher calling. I intentionally create this distinction to keep my intention pure, and to keep my contract with the universe resolute.
8. You're very active in social networking. How important do you feel this is in our technological, high-speed age? What are the benefits?
All success in life comes through other people, whether online, or in "real life." I have been working with "social networking" software since I was 10 years old when I wrote and ran bulletin board systems that pre-dated the Internet's commercial use. Social networking and the Internet are transforming the world before our eyes at the speed of fiber-optic light. Social networking is what we humans do, whether in the remote village, or the global village, and while cliche, it is nonetheless true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And what we see as innovative now -- is not the end, but rather a new incarnation of what is, and always will be important to people, and that is relationships. People will continue to find new and interesting ways to interact with others. I love interacting with people around the world and making new friends. The more people you meet the more likely it is that you will meet those very special people who will become an important part of your life. Life is largely about relationships; even being solitary is a way of dealing with others. We cannot escape it; we are all here together and the Internet helps to show us the ways in which we were always connected from the beginning.
9. You promote many top names in the creative industries, as well as being personally hugely successful in other areas of work. What does success signify to you? What, to you, embodies the feeling of success?
When I receive private letters from people around the world telling me I have helped, or inspired them in some way I feel successful. When my children look to me as their Father, and I can know deep inside that I am setting an example for them that communicates through action, and not words alone, that their lives are full of opportunity, and great things are possible for them, then I feel successful. When I am able to recommit myself to my goals each day I feel successful. When I can carry my own burden and can still help someone else, I feel successful. When someone betrays me, judges me or tries to hurt me, and I refuse to become like them, or become cynical, I feel successful. When I am disappointed, and yet still can believe, I feel successful. When my heart and mind is open, I feel successful. When I cry because I feel for someone, I feel successful. Even when I fail I feel successful, because it was a place of effort from which I fell.
Each day, like everyone, I wake up and face the world. It is not always a hospitable world. It is full of problems to be solved, mistakes to learn from and the accumulation of my experiences, both good and bad. However, it is a new day and a new chance! Nothing embodies the feeling of success more to me, than knowing that each second is a new chance. Success in the traditional sense is transient; at best a place from which to fall. My idea of success is that I can decide what to do with my next minute, I am alive, I love myself, I am privileged to love others, and others truly love me.
Success, just like poverty is a state of mind. You can become successful instantly with a simple decision and commitment. Long lasting and pronounced success comes to those who renew their commitment to a mindset of abundance every minute, hour and day. Every moment is a new chance for you to recommit your hope and faith to your own version of success. My version of success does not matter and I need not tell you what it is. You can observe it in the way I live each moment.
Would you like to know more?
Join me in my True Love for Life...
I am in love with life. If you open your mind you will realize that life is just amazing. Try not to let your religious and cultural prejudices stand in the way of learning something new or understanding something differently. What seems one way to one person can seem very different to another. What would be correct and good in one instance can be wrong under other circumstances. Therefore, I consider the opinions of others as I do the words from a friend's conversation; to be considered alongside my own and carefully weighed and thought about. We are all brothers and sisters in humanity. I hope that you can know the joy and humility of realizing the many similarities we share with other cultures, even with their ethological constructs so seemingly dissimilar from our own.
Ultimately, I would like to build bridges to greater understanding and empathy. It is not that I believe there is no evil in the world; for there surely is, and it must be dealt with. I do, however, believe there is an appalling lack of understanding, communication and concession between individuals and groups. So often, both have valid and completely legitimate points, yet both have great misunderstandings too, and neither have any capacity to acknowledge their own faults. Both sides are often right about the other, wrong about themselves and unwilling to accept the mantel of responsibility to change. Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are.
In my own quest for greater understanding, I have held correspondences for a great many years with people of diverse stations in life, and in multitudinous regions and nations. Many of these people I communicate with are very well known in their respective fields, and often these people have something very meaningful to say. As I have found out, many of them have led excruciatingly brutal lives of high pressure; pressures where the seams of true human nature are often ripped open, exposing them to the best and worst humanity has to offer. Many are in positions of high power, literally holding the lives of their subordinates in their hands. For example, I have communicated with an executioner from a firing squad, a billionaire CEO, a death row serial killer, world famous actors, one of the most hated men in America, a cutting edge researcher, a surgeon who has felt the life under his scalpel slip away, a soldier that has killed hundreds in battle, Noble Prize laureates, best selling authors, politicians and countless other intriguing people with vivid life experiences to learn from. These people often have something simple, yet profound to say, and almost always, it is surprising.
Equally important though, is my correspondence with ordinary people living out regular lives, and I have found their experiences, stories and advice meaningful and touching. Many of my correspondents live in countries across the globe such as Greece, Romania, Sierra Leone, France, Denmark, Madagascar, Australia, Pakistan, India, Lithuania, Spain, Hong Kong, Norway, Iraq, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, China and dozens of other countries and cities. I communicate with the young and old, rich and poor, and people representing many cross-sections of life experience, religious conviction, political affiliation and cultural understanding. I also pay aclose ttention to what children have to say, for I learn a great deal from them too.
My exploration has reached into my own personal life and past too. I have talked with people in the tragic field of pediatric oncology. I have been an interpreter for the deaf working within that silent subculture and listening to what there was to learn about communication and isolation. As a young man, I volunteered hundreds of hours in hospices and domiciliaries, befriending the elderly who had no family, and have held their hands in mine, as I watched life's light flicker, and at once fade from their eyes as they passed from this world. I have sat silent and frightened, with tears streaming from my eyes as I tried to grasp some salient thought about the absence of their breath. I have collected stories from these people, many of whom exist only as a memory in my mind, and a sentiment in my poetry. I have done hundreds of hours of work with the police and FBI, working with the socially challenged, domestic chaos, suicides, addictions and remorseless killers, during which, I have held a dying woman's skull together with my bare hands as she gasped, trying to whisper some unintelligible communication to me with her last breath. I have stood witness to both the creation, and destruction of innocent life. I have worked with the mentally retarded and physically challenged, and learned about the broken boundaries between the mind and body, and the fine line between health and hardship.
But even with all of my experiences I know that I am naïve, but not so much so, as to not know that we are all naïve. We are all struggling, whether we know it at times or not. Even in our moments of individual bliss, an incubus of ignorance, fear and hunger still haunts large regions of the world. I am recalcitrant to the ever pervasive ethos of apathy that haunts my part of the world, but not nearly enough. We all need to intimately know the sorrows of others, so that the saying, "There but for the grace of God, go I," becomes an epitaph to our indifference, rather than a trite allegory of elitism for those who have forgotten that they too are human, that they too are frail, that they too are subject to such miseries. And in this dervish whirlwind of vanity, indifference, greed and ignorance we fuel, we all at times, ask whatever forces we believe in for clarity and meaning of our purpose in this existence; our Raison D'etre.
However, true meaning is an apparition. Life is complex and full of illusions. Absolute understanding in this life is unattainable, and time without profound change is inescapable. Yet, we are all still compelled, like the moth to the flame, to attain that which is beyond our reach, and this we must do. The mysteries we ostensibly perceive, though seemingly ubiquitous, are but mere stitches that hold the inconceivably vast fabric of the unknown tightly closed from our ever prying view.
To understand the mysteries of life you must look around and within. You will see patterns everywhere; patterns that seem to manifest themselves over and over again. These patterns exist intertwined within nature and man bridging the gap between the enigma of self and universe. You see them in spiraling galaxies and the Mandelbrot fractal of fossilized Ammonoidea; growing from the unknown to atoms to molecules to solar systems to galaxies to the paradoxical expanses of the universe with origins and destinations unknown; just like us in birth and death. The similarities of tree branches, rivers and blood veins. The power of cellular division and nuclear fission, the patterns of finger prints like endoplasmic reticulum, or a black opal's play of fire like the nebula of supernova. Moon shots are like protoplasmic lurches, while simple thoughts and observations of the nature around us take us beyond the unknown. The clues to the great mystery are all around us and deep within us.
You may find many philosophical contradictions within my writings. However, to this I say such is life, for life is full of contradictions. Do not allow the adumbrations of Aristotelian logic to prevent you from seeing a vast spectrum of truths; the post-Boolean continuum of shades of grey where we spend most of our lives. This simple philosophical perspective, long understood in Eastern spiritual philosophies is a 'new,' seminal vanguard of understanding and reason in the West. Poetry can bridge that gap between what is solid and what is suggested; poetry can pull cogent meaning from the vaporous illusions of the esoteric. The most essential thing I can say of poetry is this: Good poetry does not exist merely for the sake of itself, but rather, is a byproduct of yearning and growth; great poetry canonizes that yearning for the growth of others.
I call my poetry 'Living Poetry,' because it is continually a work in the making, as I too am a work in the making. When you read one of my poems, you may be in fact reading the thoughts, sentiments and life experiences as seen through my eyes, and the experiences of many people in many places. One of my poems, 'The Tree of Life,' is a composite of wisdom and insights from nearly 100 people living in numerous countries, and took two years to get on paper. My poetry is not about books or mass publications or publicity or fame. I have always been too busy corresponding, thinking, learning and writing to want any of that. My poetry is about real people, relationships and experiences that we can all learn from. My poetry is certainly not about me, for I am far too unimportant. I am just a student of the world; a miniscule, and frail embodied consciousness struggling to understand, and be a meaningful part of this great, mysterious play of life which is set on the stage of our baffling home in the universe.
Join me in my quest for a greater understanding of our existence. Join me in my desire for a greater self. Join me as I seek the humility to love and understand my fellow man. True love is quiescent, except in the nascent moments of true humility. Life is a wonderful journey. I believe we should make good use of the precious time and talents we have been given. We should look at the world around us, as well as the mysteries within us, as we seek for understanding and harmony with self. The gift of thought is more than I can bear, and I am elated in gracious joy for each moment I have in this beautiful and painful existence called life.
Lavender Flower Flows
Lyrics Honor those Men
Daughters and mothers weep and cry As dutiful fathers bleed and die Their sons and their brothers with fathers fall too, Loving their families and all they hold true
They scrape the last breath out of their lungs They bleed their last drop in pools that run With flesh they forge real the truths their hearts hold In hopes their young children in joy will grow old
We must honor those men who gave up their lives Loved by their children, their friends and their wives They live in our memories each day we are free They gave us this freedom; their death their decree
Masonic Midnight Radiance
Moments After
by Bryant H. McGill, December of 2004
I have held a human soul As it flew right from my hands And I watched that warm red glow Chill, and then disband
I have looked in knowing eyes That knew not any more Nor winked quaint goodbyes That twinkled just before
I have felt a weakened breath That moved in shallow sighs That rattled upon death But spoke of no goodbyes
I have held a hand in waiting Until minutes before the night Our clasp slowly abating Then gone just with the light
There was nothing I could sense No mystical night surprise Just a profound silence Broken by sobs and cries
Now one
Sex without pain, Weakening with a quiver, Would be like food With out taste or smell
Sex without love Or the spirits endeavor, Would be only pain, Weakening with a quiver
With all and without, So tasteless is the flesh, Unless as one The two flesh's do twine,
Eternally fulfilling With the grace of a kiss, My darling with all be mine...
Our Master Love
by Bryant H. McGill, April of 2003
Oh, love is a masterful pain A splendid martyr it makes To render its likeness again The best and worst credits to take
We give it our happiest years It reaps from our souls endless tears In life it goes on, in death too beyond It both comforts and proves our worst fears
Peace and Love Eternal Buddha
Poetry In Motion
Red Flame Bloom
by Bryant H. McGill, May of 1996
This is the dragon The damsel's flame red bloom The heaven's ghost of love The life-makers loom
Now I have seen it And now I shall live Like the dawn of another eve The night fall doth give
And all of the world The people and memories too Are now a sighful kin To the silk-lit blacken hue
But in their somber There is a memory blooming sight To visions of love and truth so tame That a velvet revolt incites
To our greater selves, give in, let go, To intrepid thoughts at dawn So not for naught the thoughts will go To carry life beyond
Release The Primal Fears
Remnants of Salvation
Rolling Hills Wandering
Roots that Bind the Dragon
Sandcastles
Life wears you down each day, little by little
Like sandcastles, grain by grain back to the sea, breath by breath
Back to the soil, the blood recedes to the unknown, from the unknown
Hands that create, and then wash away...
She Kept Her Face Covered
She's Home Now
Dedicated to Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford
Her daddy tucked her into bed Gave her a kiss, and whispered, "I love you." Those would be, the last words he said, Her brown, loving eyes, his last view.
The impression was still on her pillow, Where her precious head, had last laid In the quiet comfort of her home, Where no child, should ever be afraid
Her school books lie out and ready, For a new day; her shoes on the floor The only things missing, a stuffed teddy And the innocence, we trusted before.
Her room will stay the way it was left With the lights on, until her daddy decides-- To turn off the lights; close the door, now bereft Of the warm, loving soul once inside.
She was taken, without mercy-- so cruel! Like a flower bud, cut before blossom, To her family, a stolen, crown jewel That sank all our hearts to the bottom
And from this abyss, we now sit in Our own demons, we now must face, Of mortal monster's, all consuming sin Their deeds, to all, a disgrace
But, as we pick up-- the sword of justice To see her eternal balance restored, Let us swear to remember, and keep in trust This child's blessed memory, ever more…
And with our oath, we shall promise To give thanks, for life's great blessing And live worthy, of those who have truly lost And learn from this essential lesson!
Sins are not the Worst
by Bryant H. McGill, April of 1997
Sins are not the worst, And goodness not the best But love is ever living And death eternal rest
Small Towns
by Bryant H. McGill, August of 1997
Small towns, freckled frowns, far behind the times Drawl downs, heckle-hounds, childlike pervert minds They started young, and just for fun, they called each other names And now their tongue, though youth is done, embraces still these games
Oh meet them today, and watch them smile, and say then fair-the-well Deceits underway, for all the while, they're talking you straight to hell Feverish whispers, judgments high, condemnations fly As little tweaks, by mental freaks, through connotations lie
They're scared inside, that's why they lied, at themselves they mostly frown For deep inside, in fear they hide, themselves they thus then crown A crown of chatter, a crown of hate, a crown of jealousy and woe So know your friends, and say good things, and by talk you'll know your foes
The Course of the Flesh
by Bryant H. McGill, July of 2005
For who could fain a soul controlled, Whilst craving teeth on supple lobes, Ignore the cockles thrashing toll, Like the Muse's hot whisper in the ear.
Youth's blossom, the soul intoxicates Blood that seethes on petals to devour A flower's beguiling grand seduction Fighting the dizzy lust to englut
Later deep in season's sweet opine Mature consuming blooms delight, In waves that swell and yearn to crash On thundered shores where youth subsides
No difference, to those thus immured In youthful folly, or mature love sublime, The marrow sets the quickened course, The eye and hand, the time.
The higher calling of exalting joy through compassion
I was shocked to discover, that never before in the history of diplomacy and politics on Earth, had a document been brought before all nations to be signed, that simply stated we unequivocally desire world peace. I am not suggesting a document that has any specific actions or concessions, but just a simple statement of intention. This seemed to me like a catastrophic failure toward the goal of greater peace. Declaring our intentions for greater goodwill and peace IS the obvious first step toward attaining those goals. Every journey begins with the first step.
We may not be able to change the world overnight, and I have no fantasies of creating a utopia, but trust with me, through faith in possibility, that we can make some difference, and no matter how slight that difference is, it will be a resounding triumph for humanity! We are now taking that document before the kings and common citizens of the world, where we will open our hearts and implore their deepest consideration, and they will be changed. What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? I would raise awareness and champion the reality that greater goodwill and peace is not only possible, but impossible to stop, for as Victor Hugo wrote, 'There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.' The time has come. We can, will and ARE creating a ripple, that will traverse the globe, carrying with it a message of hope through oneness. Every life is precious. Let us subdue the ravages of our baser-self, and aspire to the higher calling of exalting joy through compassion, for that is the one true purpose of humanity. Join us now, and become that great calling.
Would you like to know more?
The Open-Winged McGill Family Crest
The precious opal is the queen of all gemstones
You will always remember the first time you hold in your hand the queen of all gemstones; a brilliant precious opal. Beauty in nature will seldom speak more clearly or boldly to you as the first moment when you peer spellbound into the magnificent luster of the opal's kaleidoscopic inferno. One must think it would be God's own vision if he held in his hand the Earth itself to gaze at the heavenly fires of her aurora borealis. Seduced, as you gaze into the opal's labyrinthine nebula of fires and color, you will know that were the expanses of the universe ever to be contained they would abide in the effulgent opal's blaze.
Resplendent hues of unfathomable color and fire leap from its form. Your eyes and entire being will satiate with visual harmonies of color. There are greens that leave jealousy without color; greens with depths that pale rich emeralds to light jades. Opulent blends dance before you in infinite shards of light infused with a cosmos of motley infinitudes of reds, like blood red roses; deeper than any crimson, ruby oxblood red. The intense blues shift from sapphire and turquoise and cerulean to cobalt salted glass with depths like the heart of the ocean; azure visions crisp as any October sky and as sullen as the most beautiful blue eyes love's envy has ever known. It will only take one gaze, and you too will be forever in love.
The Tree of Life
1 The tree of all life divides The limbs and branches bifurcate, Yearning growth shall not subside The will of life will not abate
2 With men and leaves the same Our family lines divide Through this freely flowing vein Life's hope, the young derive
3 The branch from which you grow Will tell you who is kin, And all those we truly know, Are those we call our friends
4 This simple truth of bloodline fire, No greater gift is known, Than knowing why our hearts aspire, To forever cherish our own.
5 Like leaves we live and fall, On branches we all abound The graves that catch us all, Are scattered on the ground
6 We all return to soil, This fate for both is known For seeds are grown like souls, In death new life is sown
7 The ties that bind us taut, Man's family tree of souls Are like leaves naturally wrought, On branches perched on knolls
8 While deep within the roots descend, Life's intercourse with ground At each and every sunray's end, Stirs life, in mysteries bound
9 In this endless cycle of life, The past is future true The days follow the starlit nights, As the sun gives way to the moon
10 The tides slowly ebb and flow, As mountains rise and fall Winters warm to summers' glow, And spring gives birth to all
11 Life's chance is in the center Between the dark and light, Outward, it grows, from the inner As diverging patterns fight
12 The voids define the forms, And the chaos stirs the order For all opposing forces burn, Brightest at their border
13 To each and every living thing The call of life will enthrall, From the mysteries, up we spring, Then to them back we fall
14 The worm awaits its feast Our master in the ground, The most becomes the least Our death to dust is bound
15 Like leaves we have a season, We pass through life so fast And no one knows the reason, That youth and life can't last
16 All life awaits its chance To grow and plant its seed, And hope the future grants Its single greatest need
17 To be a part of life With roots secured in ground, While through the bitter strife New hopes are made or found
18 To reproduce the best And minimize our faults, And through our lives attest, By that which we exalt!
19 To know of things greater Than the small part we play, To know what Creator Produced us from the fray
20 For leaves and men the same Our time is frail and brief, Cruelty has not been tamed Nor fairness worth belief
21 Some leaves wither and die, Because they grew too low And others, perched up reaching high, Shall never peaceful shadows know
22 For growing high, up above Has many sights unseen, Like the moist gift to all beloved, The silky-shaded dues that gleam
23 Some seem like perfect leaves With broad and beautiful forms, Yet caught up in a gentle breeze From life they may be torn
24 Most are average size and form, While others grow not well Some were diseased and deformed And quickly died and fell
25 The cycles of life will pass through Its purposes will be fulfilled, And when destiny wants to take you No matter what — it will
26 Give yourself to this flow And enjoy the time as you wait, You may only resist to learn and grow But you cannot resist your fate
27 For nature is very resourceful Its mistakes are with pure intent, It is never at all remorseful And shall never through force relent
28 So do not fight its mighty plan Or force will be met with force, And in this yielding peaceful span Shall men then know their course
29 Life's truth is so simple, Its purity is cold and divine, The skies are our holy temple Under which we are all entwined
30 We all yearn for knowledge The light we need to grow, We must however acknowledge, Some things, we cannot know
31 Once we accept our Creator's design Living in joy can then begin, This is the wisdom eluding mankind It is our pride, we must transcend
32 Take what life has to offer you And make it the best you can, And understand the simple truth That it is sufficient, to be a man
33 Accept your place in nature The truth, you will then plainly see, We're but a melody, in one grand overture Like the rustling leaves of a tree.
The Tree of Life Divides, Illustration
The Vision of an Orphan
by Bryant H. McGill, March of 1993
In the early dawn of the first Autumn day, In a small town-- Few to whom had known, Awoke a young orphan boy.
As usual he made his way through the town, While silently his soul did sing, Through the thick of the woods-- to the edge of the lake, By the way of the winding spring.
At the bank of the lake he sat quiet and still, That even the animals knew, Of his wisdom's taught, by nature's insight he wrought, And to all he lends wisdom hitherto.
And over the years of seventy and nine, His shadow as one did twine, With the leaves and the trees-- by the sun's peaceful ease, To a wreath of the soul and the vine.
He only spoke once that the town people heard, From a drifter of the lands of the free, So he said once he heard-- like a flittering bird, Chirping psalms of the gods begging pleas
And as the orphan died he spoke before the trees,
What can I offer to you, Least that which you already possess, But a token far above-- written knowledge, spoken love, Hereof noble scarlet blood may you bless.
The grave of death calls out to me, As I am weary and soon to pass, For those graves of the soil-- stretch far to the sea, With the roots of all souls springing up through the grass.
Here at my death I wonder, what of life-- and living have I learned, Have your psalms been remembered, For your souls too shall surrender, one day, And my spirit now moves by its freedom so yearned.
We are all born from the same dust, And spring forth to the light, Reaching up to the height, Of the source of the envy-- of the cold black of night.
And even as the dry leaf in my hand is crushed, and scatters in the soil, So too by a greater hand am I returned to the earth, And even as the farmer-- for his crops will so toil, From his efforts shall he eat, for his misery shall yield mirth
We are born that all may live, That all indeed will be born, That the gift of life be given to the night, By the break of the dawn-- of the morn's early light.
And I know now that my youth is spent,
And what may I say of youth, Except it be the wish of the old, That the start of the finish, through time does diminish, That a story you tell-- though it be long, shall be told.
Our youth is not the grace of calm, But the waves of the highest in the sea, That joins the heart, the soul and mind, That shakes and settles the roots of the trees.
It is through the good will of youth, that our souls do so grow, Like the arrow so springs-- from the taut archer's bow, And flies through air like a wedge in the night, As it soars like a razor to the knowledge of light.
It is how we learn that so separates us, from the beasts of the wild, It is that quest that so burns-- in the deep of deep, For the knowledge of gods, Of the infant child's weeps!
Will I ever know of these things,
I seek knowledge even as the trees, branches of leaves Stretch and sway in the wind, that they may each find the sun, For knowledge so shines-- from the sun as it sends, As for life and to live-- our morrow so depends...
Ah, but as tomorrow shall come, even so shall it pass,
For opposition in this life Is the blood in my veins, Like the black roots in the ground Of the shiny gold grains.
You should never be as one constant-- In spirit or body! For even as we are made of bones of hard-- and tender flesh, So too should our spirits be not of all tenderness.
For it is the unbalanced That shall cause even itself to fall, For the moon would not shine-- Should the sun never fall.
And once again I beg of you, do tell,
What can I offer to you, Least that which you already possess, But a token far above-- written knowledge, spoken love, Hereof noble scarlet blood may you bless.
May you bless me that all I have lived for, in knowledge and deed, Be my fare to your paradise-- with assured Godspeed, That the orphan of the trees, my life you have known, That my life as I give-- be my eternal birthstone.
My birthstone to forever, my tomb of today, And I call to your mercy-- as in weakness I lay, For all I have to give to you-- are my mortal remains, To christen this earth, to forever sustain...
So a sustain of life-- by my death do I give, That the green of your leaves by my marrow should live! For it is the twain of our souls-- that do twine into one, Like the night and the day, and the moon and the sun...
And the breath no longer filled his lungs...
And as sure as he died-- the trees youthfully grew, And forever they cried-- leaves mounted in dew, And forever his soul-- with the bird's songs sing, Shining bright in the blue-- waving leaves living green
The way your true story will be told
Vow to cherish, each simple moment, For this time is the greatest gift ever sought Love your children, that you never lament Over words and deeds, never wrought
Catch every little tear; like diamonds in your hand And remember, little things break their hearts Seek to truly know them; to truly understand Their tiny worries, through gentle smiles depart.
Even their scattered toys-- are a joyful reminder That they are there, and happily at play, Even their demands, proudly declare, They have their own minds, and say;
Their little bodies, so perfect a display; Their hands that playfully touch your face, Or, pull your hand to say, "come along and play;" In a magical, and wondrous place.
Their voices-- instruments pure and true Their words, a melody most sincere, When they peer in your eyes and say, "I love you," And you know it's the truest thing, you'll ever hear.
These are the things, that will make them whole, That they will carry forever in their memory This is they way your true story will be told, By loving and treasuring your family.
This Life
by Bryant H. McGill, April of 2003
Love the lips, taste the wine Curves of hips, intertwined
Up the hill, down the valley Children shrill, bodies tally
Fickle fate, despot masters Hour's late, great disasters
Children sleeping, gentle faces Stars creeping, cross the spaces
Love your daughters, love your sons For time's waters, quickly run
Wake the flies, stir the worms To dust that dies, to ash that burns
Time is the Great Illusion
by Bryant H. McGill, December of 2004
Take every precious moment And spend it well my friend And dwell thee not on discontent To higher forms transcend
For life is full of illusions None as persuasive as time Men shall come to their conclusions And few as such sublime
For our time is frail and brief Our hearts are a beating clock No matter what our will or belief The ticking hands shall stop
Many a man before his hour Answered a call of unknown toll When rang the bells a distant tower His mortal hours stole
But time you see is a perception Its tempo an illusion of the mind The clock shall make no exception Save how a man shall reckon time
It is here that death has no power Some deeds they echo on forever In another's beating passing hour The gift of your loving endeavor
Sometimes it is just a smile or glance Your gift of a gentle touch or embrace Just never miss that precious chance To do what time cannot erase
Tourtured Souls
Truths once known
by Bryant H. McGill, July of 1996
Do not be afraid... my daunted friends For life-- like light, shall never be bound Through life, this darkness veil transcends Your soul's own light, shall joys resound!
From light, the shadows of darkness cast In crossroads-- we many therein stand Succumb thee not to darkness vast Sin's wisdom-- of the Master's plan
The colors of life, and choices all Seed the fields of hope-- with our druthers We sometimes in, these spectrums fall Needing-- our sisters and brothers!
For beneath the muted colors-- dearth Life's vestige brilliance, may there be found Lore tells of beauty, soul and birth Strife's journey, spirit-- nature crowned
Within black, and sullen faces shown Memories of pith-- begin to wane Kin to moments, of truths once known These ballads-- and visions-- the same
Unfinished business: a reflection of the Southern way of life
08/26/05 - For the Journal-Constitution. Essay's by Famous Southerners
I believe there is a deeper meaning to Southern college football. Sure, we have all heard the stories and witnessed the fervor and wrath of football in the South. Rivalries, savoring victories for years, legends and heroes, and ferocious competitions of what was, what could have been, and what will be the matchup of the century; these are a few hallmarks of real Southern college football. Many Southerners have tried to explain this passion to the uninitiated, usually to discover that it is hard to convey an ethos with mere words. But, for those of us who grew up around it, we know that college football is a reflection of the Southern way of life.
The South, it seems, has unfinished business.
All people invest their pride in their youth; Southerners are no different, nor was my grandfather, who may have been the greatest Alabama football fan who ever lived. He watched every game and had a shrine of photographs, Daniel Moore prints, autographs and memorabilia. He loved the Crimson Tide, and followed Bear Bryant's career with Alabama from day one. My name was likely inspired by my grandfather's hero, Paul "Bear" Bryant, who he endlessly quoted to me, saying, "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride — and never quit, you'll be a winner."
Well, one day my grandfather had the privilege of meeting his hero. What did he do when he stood before his idol? Did he have something signed to add to his collection? No, he had an autograph signed for me, "To Bryant, From Bryant — Believe in yourself." For sure, the one thing he loved more than football was his grandson. For many Southerners, college football is more than just a game. It is a part of our childhood, our dearest memories, our coming-of-age, our traditions and our celebration of life, competition and excellence.
The embodiment of Bear Bryant's quote lives on in the traditions and will of the
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I believe there is a deeper meaning to Southern college football. Sure, we have all heard the stories and witnessed the fervor and wrath of football in the South. Rivalries, savoring victories for years, legends and heroes, and ferocious competitions of what was, what could have been, and what will be the matchup of the century; these are a few hallmarks of real Southern college football. Many Southerners have tried to explain this passion to the uninitiated, usually to discover that it is hard to convey an ethos with mere words. But, for those of us who grew up around it, we know that college football is a reflection of the Southern way of life.