Photography ~ Poetry ~ Nature ~ Spirit ~ Expression ~ Christian ~ Cherokee ~ Inspiration
 
 
WELCOME
 

My name is william.  The above quote says making a difference is what life is about.  But, what constitutes making a difference?  After several years of having this site, it occurred to me that some people might question what difference they could possibly make, given their circumstances.  So, I would like to share a quote someone gave to me which hangs in the prayer and meditation room room at the Teaching & Sharing Center of Grand Ledge. 

"To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to give of oneself; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm & sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier: this is to have succeeded." 

I have never said it was about making a huge difference, just some difference.  I think that quote helps to keep things in perspective.  I believe it was Mother Teresa who said it is not about doing great things, it is about doing small things with great love.  Each of us has a piece of the puzzle to contribute.  Whether what you can do, or offer, is big or small matters not.  Your part is just as important as any other.  You are important. 
 

Now here is a little information and history about this site.
 

The name a touch of william originally encompassed all of the central "five heartbeats" which were on this site. It still refers to my photography & poetry, and combined personal missions. It and Cherokee Bill's Teaching & Trade Center, with a Cherokee and Native American focus, are the primary pieces of wsharing today. Unless specifically noted, all of the photography throughout this wsharing site are pictures I have taken.  Historical images are most often pictures I took of old photos in an informational display.  The over 150 pages (and new ones coming) on my site, invite you to explore, enjoy, and visit often. 

If you are looking for the Teaching & Sharing Centers, we have moved it to its own website (www.tscenters.org).  This blue T&SC link (above) will take you there.  (The tscenters site link is for the non-profit corporation, which is an IRS approved 501c3 public charity; christian life programs; the poet's circle; Michigan Living History Encounters and Michigan Living History Encampment; or any of the T&SC Independent Affiliates) 

Legally, I am a sole-proprietor (individual owner/operator) and for ten years (1994-2004) the T&SC was a part of the associated dynamics of a touch of william.  In truth, I see myself as simply the worker through whom God set everything up.  In 2005 when we incorporated the T&SC as a non-profit public charity, those five original heartbeats (as I called them) started being arranged a little differently.  Though there is both a legal and practical arms-length separateness between my teaching and sharing and the board run corporation, the circle remains a harmonious whole, now expanding to include the visions and gifts of others.  I hope you experience it as such, and can in some way personally connect within this circle of teaching and sharing the many gifts God gives to us all. 
 

Nature-Spirit-Expression

How To Navigate This Site
 

I truly believe the quote with which I opened this page, and pray that this site reflects that belief. I was not personally connected to the Internet when I started this website. I try to keep my life as simple as I can. So when I became convinced the Holy Spirit was moving me in this direction, I sought advice from friends who were. Some of them were concerned about the "pirating" which they say is so common. But, you cannot steal what I have already freely given. The william sharing site is all about sharing myself and my work.
 

  

I encourage you to download, print, and share with your family, friends, and others, anything which has touched your heart here (see proper crediting on the a touch of william page).  Then you have a choice. You can stand on the sidelines, or you can choose to be a partner in this process (see the donations page for information), providing help in accordance with your means.

     

Marketing my photography and poetry is not a primary goal of mine and I no longer offer it for sale on this site. If you have a desire to commercially use my work, or have a (personal use) need for a format you cannot simply copy from the site, email or call me. 

 

     

 

People sometimes ask me how do I make a living with all the stuff I do or provide for free? The honest answer is, that from a worldly perspective, I do not "make a living."  Like many involved in outreach, or spiritual sharing, I simply live life faithfully doing that which I believe God has asked of me. I think Peace Pilgrim put it best when she responded to that same question. Her reply was: 

     

"I work for my living in an unusual way. I give what I can through thoughts and words and deeds to those whose lives I touch and to humanity. In return I accept what people want to give, but I do not ask. They are blessed by their giving and I am blessed by my giving."  I once read, and believe, that true security lies not in what you have, but in what you can do without. 

 

     

 

I realize that, in our society, by most people's standards this is a most peculiar or unusual way to function.  I do not work an extra job, nor am I independently wealthy. I do believe in and practice debt-free living. If my wife and I do not have the resources for something, we simply find a way to function otherwise.  My security and my peace rest in my relationship with my Creator. 

     

By the way, throughout this site you may see me use the words Creator, God, Abba, Unelanvhi, Spirit, Holy Spirit, Great Spirit, Father, Grandfather, Christ and a few others interchangeably or similarly to reference the Hebrew Yahweh (or Jehovah). For me, while stemming from different traditions, all of these refer to the Creator "of all that is seen and unseen, Maker of heaven and earth."

 

     

 

Since Jesus is an historical person, using His name refers, of course, to Him personally. The capitalized pronouns acknowledge my belief in Him as the Christ (or Messiah), the incarnation of God.  And, though I tend to use masculine nouns and pronouns, I do not see God, except for Jesus, as male. Any power capable of creating everything, rests well beyond our ability to define, and outside of our boxes. 

 

I truly hope you enjoy visiting the "wsharing" website often. 
May God bless your generosity and journey, as He has mine.
             
     
             
     
             
  Direct links to:

Scrapbook Photos

Poetry & Pictures

Picture of the Week

  
         
     
             
     
             

SHARING IN CHRIST
(a page from my original Poetry & Pictures books)

I have some recollections of occasionally visiting a church as a youngster.  In high school, Mr. Jolly, my foreign language teacher, taught our entire class the Lord's Prayer in German. Later, facing life's struggles, I sought out and learned the prayer's English words. But nature provided most of my early exposure to God.  

In early 1985, at age 34, I began an earnest search to bring some spiritual meaning into my life. Though I had not been brought up religiously, I had been exposed to the person Jesus, primarily through movies, and other media sources.  The Christian religion held little attraction for me however, since I saw it as a place filled with hypocrisy. Yet this Jesus was incredibly different from any other historical persons with whom I was familiar. 

In November 1985, at age 35, I placed my life into God's hands, and committed myself to a path of trying to emulate this "brother" Jesus.   But, I still wanted little to do with his "Christian" religion or its churches.  Though my petitions always went to God (the Father), I began suspecting I was somehow developing a relationship with the Son, Jesus. After battling it for three years, I was baptized in 1988. Today I refer to Jesus as the Christ.  And it is because of Him that I share with you. 

Billy Graham, a man I greatly respected, would have told you to turn from your sins and come by faith to Jesus Christ; saying, "Lord, I receive You into my heart."  My poetry illustrates that turning from sin is not so easy.  But, I too believe, you can make no better choice than a personal relationship with Jesus, the Christ. 

- william

"This is the Good News of the gospel: 

that forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt are available through faith in Christ
to all people — including you."

- Life Application Bible (NIV)

 

     
             
     
             
     
             
     


A Piece of Nostalgia and Site History

The opening photo with the quote on this home page has always been the same.  Below you will find the original graphic and text links which followed that photo when wsharing was first set up in October 2002.  When the Teaching & Sharing Center(s) was incorporated on January 1, 2005, I redid each of the primary pages in this site and created a few history pages. In 2010, when we moved the corporate pages to the new tscenters.org site, I once again reviewed, changed, and eliminated some of what had previously been here.  But, there remains much to explore and plenty of additions on my "to do" list for you to check back on.  (The texts on the two circles no longer function as links; I deactivated them) 
 
 

The opening photo without words is Glacier National Park Sunset #519-15.

If you previously visited my site you may have heard the music "Wind Voices" by John Two-Hawks.
Due to some technical problems, I have eliminated the code allowing for the accompaniment.
Please visit John's site, or better yet, one of his concerts, to hear his beautiful music.

The photo of me (william) was taken by my wife Donna
November 11, 2008 while we were on vacation in Hawaii with a group from church.
 
 
click here for a description
of the Golgotha Cross I wear