Distractions

By W. Oliver Barkley

Tyler Emerson, a Hard Core Active Marine Corps Reservist serves his country one weekend a month, and two weeks in summer. While he specializes in home repair to earn a decent wage and livable income, he also chases his dream of becoming a published writer.
Finally, after being blessed with an opportunity to freelance an article for a major magazine, procrastination along with distraction after distraction challenged him to give up, and give in to the negative voice that spoke so discouragingly into his inner ear.
But Tyler had made a conscious deliberate decision to walk by faith, and not by sight with an understanding that distractions, whether pleasant or unpleasant, can be viewed as dream killers. Distractions can also lure him off course, and lead him miles and miles in the wrong direction. He also understood distractions are one of the major reasons why many of us fail to reach our goals, and or desired destination in life.
Come, journey along with Marine Corps Reservist Staff Sergeant Tyler Emerson as he endures “Distractions Under Pressure” to meet a Friday week deadline, and also pay a personal tribute to whom he deemed the world’s greatest fighting man, The Vietnam Veteran.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. Oliver Barkley
• Release date: Jan 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370954438

W. Oliver Barkley

Biography Born William Oliver Barkley to Sterling Dewey and Margaret Lucille Barkley on 29 April 1954 in Washington County, Plymouth North Carolina. I attended Forth Street Elementary School through junior high, ninth grade year at Washington County Union School, and then on to Plymouth High after mandatory school desegregation in 1969. In my senior year, I was required to attend summer school to take a six week course in English to complete my curriculum and receive my high school diploma. Two weeks later, on 10 August 1972 around midnight, I stepped off a Greyhound Bus into a pouring rain, and onto Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island South Carolina where I successfully completed thirteen weeks of Marine Corps Boot Camp and earned the right to be called one of The few, The Proud, A MARINE. After boot camp, I received orders for Camp Lejeune North Carolina, Fleet Marine Force, 2nd Marine Division. I was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company 3/8 where I served an eighteen month tour of duty. I then received orders for a one year tour of duty at Marine Barracks, Guantanamo Bay Cuba. On 9 August 1975, I departed Active Duty Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune North Carolina, Headquarters Company 1/6 a Corporal after three years of service to our Country. Upon departing active duty service, I enlisted into Active Marine Corps Reserve, Raleigh Supply Company, Raleigh North Carolina and over the next eleven years rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and ultimately, acting platoon Commander. I departed the Marine Corps in 1986 after fourteen years of service, active and reserve. Today, I reside on the ole family homestead in Plymouth, North Carolina. I attend Greenville Community Christian Church where Pastor James D. Corbett is Shepherd, and Sister Marilyn Ross along with Brother Raymond Fleming and I compose the team of Dream-A-Vision Designs. Dream-A-Vision Designs is a ministry on a mission to “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” according to St. Mark 16:15. “For we walk by faith, not by sight, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 - Hebrews 12:2

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