Read an Excerpt
Truth Is
Life, Love & Humor
By Eddie J. Carr
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Eddie J. Carr
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-9546-7
Chapter One
SOMEDAY Life, to us, is a passion
It is always hurry up and wait.
No matter how hard we rush,
We usually show up late.
The things that we plan to do
Just seem to slip away
Because we simply put them off
Saying we'll do it someday.
In growing up we wondered
How our life would be.
We made plans to see the world
And keep our life so free.
But all we do is work hard
To earn a decent pay
We simply put things off
To this time that we call "someday."
As the years we live roll on
And we think about the past.
It's realized what we didn't do
Because our life went by so fast.
If it comes to thing we want to do
We should remember not to say
That we have something else to do
Or maybe, I'll do it, someday.
These words that I write to you
They want start your life again.
They want change or make a difference
On how things could have been.
You see, someday is like tomorrow,
Neither will ever come your way.
Do the things you've always wanted
And live life day to day.
TRUTH IS We all have these problems that come up in our life
They cause us to get down and feel nothing but strife.
My life was at this point and things were closing in,
I felt I was a burden with nobody to call a friend
I got out of my bed one morning, stressed and alone
What good had I done in life, was I all that strong?
So I loaded up my boat with some bait and poles
Then launched it in the river to go look for a fishing hole.
My mind wasn't on fishing or relaxing on that day,
But on trying to ease my pain and find a better way.
I pulled off of the river to a place called Atkins Creek
A place no one ever went, quite serene and meek.
Cedars line the banks of Atkins, barely thirty feet wide.
It was rarely use by many and a real good place to hide.
I moved with the current, a breeze pushed the boat along
The creek was very deep and my thoughts were so wrong.
I rounded the bend of the creek and seen him sitting there
A pole in his hand, singing without much of a care.
He looked at me with a big grin and motioned me too him
He asked me of my fishing to which I told him was slim
He said "well try it here, you may just catch a few
I think they'll bite right here if you have nothing else to do.
His face was red with deep wrinkles and his eyes were sky blue.
He wore overalls, faded blue shirt and straw hat with the word "True."
The wooden boat he was in looked to have been built by hand
Its paint was cracked and faded, half white and half tan.
The name "Truth Is" was on the boat that had seen better days
But he seemed happy with it, guess that's what really pays.
Well I pulled up near him and tied off on a limb,
He just looked at me smiling and said son my name is Clem.
Before I could respond he said," saw you coming round that bend."
Could tell you have things on your mind; felt you could use a friend.
Truth Is, it's none of my business but I feel a need to let you know
These troubles that you are facing, they will come and go.
Truth Is, all these things you are hoping for and all that you wish
Is nothing more than words and you'd do better just to fish?
As I sat and listened I noticed the fish began to bite.
I wasn't sure of what he knew but so far his words were right.
He said "life is tough on us all but our problems are the same
Truth Is, son if you prepare yourself they'll run off like the rain.
Money he said is a big problem some got plenty and others less
If you have none you have the most but those with plenty have a mess.
Truth Is, son it doesn't matter how much money that you've got
Cause if you use and spend it right, you want really need a lot.
Relationships, now they are rough and will come and go
But when your feelings run deep, sometimes this ain't really so.
Truth Is, you will find someone that will set your heart aglow
Just hold on tight and fight for her, if it's meant to be you'll know.
There may be a time that comes when you've done all you can
Step back and just look at things and try to understand
If you feel that there will be no change and all hope is gone,
You may find it easier just letting go and simply moving on.
The causes of stress in life are these things I have mentioned
Money and relationships do cause us sadness and tension
Truth Is, if you work on them and put other things on a shelf
You'll realize that most things you probably brought upon yourself.
Clem looked at me and said "son this earth ain't a bad place,"
But it will pass on by you if you don't get in the race.
God promised he'd take care of us, as he does the sparrow
He will give you these things you ask, try not to be so narrow.
I sat there and listened to him and realized my bait was gone.
I pondered how he knew my thoughts and if it really shown.
He said, Truth Is, in our talk you caught a mess of fish
Just one thing left to say my friend, "Don't plan life on a wish."
I thanked Clem for his talk and started out of the creek
His words told me a lot about which direction I should seek.
As I eased around the bend, feeling better about going home
I turned around to wave goodbye but Clem was already gone.
I went down the river thinking of all that Clem had said
About the way we hide behind things and never look ahead.
We are stuck where we are because of fears we have inside
So we let it cost us happiness because we hide behind our pride.
My neighbor Charlie helped tie me up as I reached the pier
He admired my catch of fish, the best he had seen this year.
I told him I'd went to Atkins Creek with a heavy heart
Then I told him about Clem and how he pointed me to a start.
Charlie looked at me as if I had kicked him in the head,
He asked if I was sure so I repeated what I said.
That man you say you spoke too, that creek was named for him
But there is more you need to know about this man named Clem
He married a gal named Audrey who was younger than him
But once they got together, there was no separating them.
Their life was perfect even though they didn't have a lot
And if you needed help they would be there on the spot.
Everyday Clem would thank God for sending Audrey as his mate
And you could be sure if he died, he'd wait for her at the gate.
Truth Is, was always the way old Clem would start to talk
And he always looked at life as a way to take God's walk
If Clem spoke with you today there surely was a reason
He saw that you were desperate and planned to end the season.
It was Clem's way of helping you get through this rough time
To move forward with your life and get things back in line.
See he was real good at helping folks on how to work things out
If you ever felt yourself down Clem could help turn things about.
Well Audrey has moved now but she loved Clem the most
See Clem died three years ago my friend, you were talking to his ghost.
I now think back of that day when Clem helped me turn around.
And see my life as it should be, my feet back on the ground.
Clem waited throughout his life for Audrey to come along
And when she did he felt so blessed and glad to have a home.
He knew that I would be alright, though nothing is etched in stone.
And it's better to be happy with somebody than to be alone.
Every once in a while I make the trip back to Atkins Creek
And cruise up and down its banks hoping that Clem I'll meet.
I am sure he is real busy, helping others as he waits
For his love Audrey too come home as he waits there at the gate.
No matter now I'll think things through and when my life has ended
I'll sit by Clem there at the gate because I know what God intended.
DREAMS The alarm clock sounds and you sit up
You ponder the night and your dream
Not remembering exactly what happened
And unsure of what it might mean.
Your day should be like any other
As your feet hit the cool floor
You are ready for work and the day
As you reach and open the door.
A man in a suit stands there
And he says "good morning to you."
He hands you a brown envelope
Then quickly bid's you "adieu."
The letter that you have received
From an uncle that passed away from poor health
Of all his heirs he had picked you
To leave his millions in wealth.
Your days are now changed forever
As God has reached down from above
And given you the things that you wanted
Even your heart, the one you love
You remember the dream that you had
Realizing that dreams are hopes that come true
But hopes are nothing but wishes
Which is something that we all do.
Now with your wealth and the one that you love
Life is as easy as your dream
But you must never ever forget
Things are not as they seem.
The alarm clock sounds and you sit up,
Rubbing the sleep from your eyes
You place your feet on the cool floor
In dreaming, your life passed you bye.
Choices and Changes I've herd it said that we all seek a destination in life
And that our mind will design a map to get us there.
This may be true in some of our lives but not in all
Because sometimes it is like we really don't care.
We can sit and think of what we may have done in life
Where we may be headed or where we have been.
We can second guess ourselves on our life choices
And if we will or will not be pardon from our sin
But in all we have been given that one grace by God
And that is the right to choose what in life we do
He gave that to us so that we can make decisions
Which every one of us use as it is our right too.
In our lives things happen that make us aware
We feel that changes are needed in parts of our life
But we hesitate because we are not sure of the change
And we don't know if it will bring us strife.
Our heart tells us that everything will work out
Yet we fear that it want work as we hope it will
So we turn away and try to forget the change
And in doing this we bring our life to a stand still.
If we take that chance and make our choice
Would it not be better than never trying at all?
Can it be that bad to give our self the opportunity?
And as the saying is "Let the chips fall".
If happiness is what we seek, why not give it a try?
If we have feelings for someone we care for very much
Shouldn't we share those feelings and see what happens
Or deny the choice we want and use excuses as a crutch?
Is it wrong to change your life's direction if needed?
Or live as you are and remain unchanged and sad?
If the "grass really is greener on the other side,"
It would seem that being there wouldn't be that bad.
As with everything in life changes are hard too make
And we become accustom to the way things are going
We deny what our heart feels and choose to be safe
And let happiness pass by without ever really knowing.
If the past is what we are more concerned about
Then maybe it is better that there is nothing to do
Is it that we are so independent that we need no change?
Or can we let go of our emotions and try something new?
The questions that we ask our self can not help us choose
They can confuse and cause us stress in everything we do.
We can't overcome our fears that often come with change
But once that change takes place we will start things new.
The choices and changes that we make in life
Might stay with us forever or just for a season.
We all have a destination that may be laid out
Because God lets all things happen for a reason.
Life's Obstacles Obstacles are a big part of our life
They pop up at one time or the other.
It is these times we look for help,
Because we depend on each another.
At times when things seem there worse
We usually have someone around
To help us try and sort things out
And find out where we are bound.
See if I fall and you have fallen,
Would it hurt us just a little?
To help each other up
And move on with a giggle.
It is not the fall that has hurt us
Nor the pain that we've gone through,
It's just knowing that we will survive
And that we both know what to do.
If you could swim the river,
But I could only swim a little
Would you not help me across?
By meeting me in the middle.
If you could just walk a mile
And I could run a race
Would it matter who finished first?
If we finish in the same place.
In life God has given all of us
The power of right to choose.
Sometimes that choice works for us
Yet sometimes we just could lose.
So when you find your way is blocked
And don't know what to do,
Sit with a friend and sometimes you'll find
That the obstacle came from you.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Truth Is by Eddie J. Carr Copyright © 2011 by Eddie J. Carr. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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