Listen To The Whisper

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As the new owner of this domain, I believe that the information on DavidLeeSample.com 's archived pages is still important and should be available for online viewing. Unfortunately I can't present any of the music that was available on the site. Since the site will not be exactly as you remember it, please be indulgent.

 

Life is made of moments, sometimes strung together in larger segments of time and sometimes small, but always a part of the whole. In this little book there are reflections of moments in all sizes, many of which you will recognize as being very much like your own experiences. That is because David Sample has paid attention through a life that has not been easy but has still been blessed, and he has captured the pain, the joy, the challenges and the hope in words that somehow help us understand with our hearts and our minds.

For instance in "Life" he writes:

Rising effortlessly, breathlessly, the waves of eternity
Reach desperately to the depths of our souls

Darkened by past remembrances
Dashed on jagged precipices of our physical world

Ever present
Beckoning to our hearts

The gentle fingers of love reach tentatively
To touch the inner parts of our being

Enjoy your moments here.

 

ABOUT David Sample

David Sample is a speaker, songwriter, singer, poet, author, and sales guy. Through the arts, David opens the hearts of his audience to their full potential.

A veteran of the Xerox Corporation and the Tom Peters Group, David knows the importance of discipline and heart in achieving extraordinary performance.

I’m delighted to be able to share these songs with those of you who have purchased my book, “Listen To The Whisper.” All of these were originally done a’ cappella, but several of them have music now. My thanks to Steve Eaton, who both played and recorded, and to Lewis Greer, co-writer of Dot Com Blues, for their willingness to share these as well for your personal enjoyment.

All songs © David Lee Sample Reserve

Listen To The Whisper
Originally published: November 2013
Author: David Sample
Available online at Amazon

Praise for Listen to the Whisper "The hand of God truly works in mysterious and glorious ways. Somehow David Sample has written exactly what I needed to hear to truly be freed in the hope, promise, and possibility that was put in me by my Creator. Truth has a way of doing that" - Fran Wyatt, worship pastor, Willow Creek Chicago "David Sample has put together a wonderful, life-affirming collection of poetry in his book, Listen to the Whisper. . . . There is not only wisdom in these poems, but also encouragement and reflection to ponder and be guided by. Read these poems not just with your head, but with your heart as well" - John Harricharan, speaker and bestselling author "For the past fifteen years I have traveled with David Sample as a companion through both darkness and light. His songs, poetry, and insights have all arisen from his efforts to chart a path through the wilderness we call life and to reconcile his creative passion with his everyday work. His book serves as a guide for others, both those who are experiencing a depth of despair and those with a desire to deepen their personal spiritual journey" - James M. Thomas Jr. PhD, MDiv, Trinity Episcopal Church "David Sample's contribution to each of us through this book is no doubt inspired by God. I highly recommend that all of David's readers take time to Listen to the Whisper" - Jack McCall,

 

REVIEWS

 

4.0 out of 5 stars
Food for Thought-- Enjoyable Read
By norell208 on July 2, 2014
Format: Paperback
Very enjoyable reading. The author shares his ponderings and insights about life ‘s challenges and struggles with openness and honesty . He also shares triumph and hope. I especially liked the poems Well Done, Ignited, Doubt, and Found. In Found, Mr. Sample writes that we are so much more than we believe ourselves to be. “Trapped between what is and what might be…. We may find untapped potential… What a shame it would be To stand in the way of being all we can be.” In a similar vein, In Ignited , he talks about the choices one has in life, and one of those is the choice to take action to pursue our dreams and our passions. These two sentiments resonate for me. One of the author’s goals in writing these poems was to help others, and I believe he has achieved that goal.

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5.0 out of 5 stars

Personal Growth Poetry
By Malcolm Dell on February 24, 2014
Format: Paperback
I received this as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Heartfelt, meaningful poetry... very readable, many important topics on life and relationships. I keep it by my desk and read a verse daily during my morning work preparation to give me a thoughtful way to start my day, before or during my morning meditation.
Great little book, highly recommended for those on a personal growth trajectory.
Blessings!

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5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring and affirming on a deep level.
By TAYLOR L. on January 7, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Sometimes when I read something I realize almost immediately that the words are inspired or come from a source outside of the author. This is one of those kind of books. Mere contemplation or insight could not produce something like this. If you are inclined spiritually then I would highly recommend this book. It touches some core essence elements that are transformative.

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4.0 out of 5 stars >
We Need More Poetry!
By Chip R. Bell on January 14, 2014
Format: Paperback
Poetry is a mirror that turns into a window pane looking out on the truth. David Sample has honored us with a reflection on all that is saintly and sinister about us but leaves us with a view of how to become our very best.

 

 

Listen To The Whisper

by David Sample

The old man sat by the fire
Nursing his tonic and gin

The young boy sat beside him
Wondering where he’d begin

Granddaddy tell me your story
As a young boy where had you been

The old man smiled a sad smile
As the tears welled up within

Bobby when I was a young boy
I dreamed of the road ahead

The whispers of my soul
And the ramblins of my head

I loved the music of my soul
And the dreams that lay ahead

But I listened to those who said don’ t go
And followed my head instead

Bobby when I was a young boy
I dreamed of a lady ahead

Silky hair, beautiful eyes
And lips all painted red

I met her one night
Knew it was right

My soul
That is what it said

But I listened to those who said don’t go
And followed my head instead

The old man stopped for a moment and thought
God where have I been

Nursing his Gin, a smile on his face
And the tears welling up within

Bobby he said on the road of life
LIsten to what I’ve said

Listen to the whisper of your soul
Not the ramblins of your head

The old man sat by the fire
Nursing his tonic and gin

A sad smile on his face
He knew where he had been

Lost in his head
His soul nearly dead

He was near the end
For Bobby not true

For the old man knew
The boys life lay ahead

The old man smiled no smile
No tears welled up within

Seated by his grandson
Was the last place he had been

 

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More Background On DavidLeeSample.com

 

In the quietly powerful world of spiritual poetry and music, few modern voices have struck a chord quite like David Sample, the artist, author, and songwriter behind Listen to the Whisper. His website, DavidLeeSample.com, was created to share that message—a digital sanctuary where words and music merged into a single conversation about hope, redemption, and faith. Though the site later went offline, its legacy continues as an enduring reflection of one man’s journey through pain and renewal, and of the readers who found solace in his words.

This article explores both the website’s origins and structure and David Sample’s broader creative and spiritual influence, offering a comprehensive look at how his work continues to inspire reflection, compassion, and growth.

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Origins and Purpose of DavidLeeSample.com

The website was originally launched as a personal platform for David Sample, an Idaho-born writer and musician whose career spanned sales, public speaking, songwriting, and spiritual mentoring. The site served as the public home of his 2013 book, Listen to the Whisper, and of the songs that accompanied its publication. Unlike a commercial author page, DavidLeeSample.com was intimate and sincere in tone—an invitation to “enjoy your moments here,” as one of its pages urged.

The site’s design centered on simplicity and authenticity. Instead of polished marketing, it featured poems, blog entries, and reflections that mirrored the spirit of Sample’s writing—plainspoken, emotional, and rich with gratitude. Visitors could explore his writings, learn about his collaborators, and purchase his book. Embedded within it was a deeply personal story of loss, forgiveness, and faith regained.

In essence, DavidLeeSample.com existed not to sell, but to connect—to reach readers who, like its author, were searching for meaning beyond surface success. The website became a repository for what Sample called “moments of the soul,” fragments of thought meant to stir recognition and healing in others.

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The Voice Behind the Site: David Sample

Early Life and Professional Background

David Sample’s professional life began in the corporate world. A veteran of Xerox Corporation and later The Tom Peters Group, he built a career that taught him the importance of discipline, communication, and human connection. These experiences, combined with a deep personal faith, informed the creative voice that would later emerge in his poetry and songs. His work reflects a blend of analytical precision and heartfelt spirituality—an unusual pairing that became his signature style.

From Crisis to Calling

By his own account, Sample’s creative transformation came through personal hardship. He experienced a period of spiritual crisis and emotional turmoil—particularly surrounding family struggles and divorce—that forced him to confront the question at the heart of his later work: “How can I be whole?”

The answer, he said, arrived not through reason but through inspiration. Poems and song lyrics began to “arrive” as if whispered from beyond, forming the foundation of Listen to the Whisper. This theme—divine communication in quiet moments—runs throughout his writing and became the guiding metaphor for both the book and website.

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Listen to the Whisper: The Book That Inspired a Community

Publication and Themes

Listen to the Whisper was first published in November 2013 and quickly found an audience among readers of inspirational and devotional literature. Structured as a collection of reflective poems and short essays, the book traces a personal journey through despair, surrender, forgiveness, and renewal. Each poem serves as a stepping-stone toward inner peace and acceptance.

The title piece, “Listen to the Whisper,” captures the central message: the importance of paying attention to the subtle inner voice—the whisper of conscience, spirit, or divine presence—that guides us toward truth. Rather than grand sermons, Sample offered quiet reminders of grace in the everyday moments of life.

Tone and Style

His poems are free-form yet musical, blending elements of lyricism and plain speech. Many pieces juxtapose pain and healing—“darkened by past remembrances,” as one verse reads, yet redeemed through “the gentle fingers of love.” These contrasts echo the dual nature of human experience: the struggle between doubt and faith, ego and humility, intellect and intuition.

Reception and Impact

Readers responded warmly to the book’s sincerity and emotional depth. Reviews frequently described Listen to the Whisper as “life-affirming,” “inspired,” and “transformative.” Worship leaders and clergy recommended it for spiritual reflection groups, while everyday readers used it as a tool for morning meditation.

One reviewer wrote that Sample “has written exactly what I needed to hear to be freed in the hope and possibility placed in me by my Creator.” Another praised its “heartfelt, meaningful poetry” that could be read “daily during meditation.” Even casual readers, unaccustomed to devotional poetry, found resonance in its simple honesty and rhythm.

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The Blog: A Chronicle of Faith in Progress

Beyond poetry, DavidLeeSample.com featured a regularly updated blog, which offered insight into the author’s ongoing personal and spiritual journey. These entries gave the audience a more spontaneous, conversational view of his thought process.

• In “Redemption!!”, he summarized his story succinctly: “Man in crisis cries out to God for help. God answers… scared man runs away. God won’t let go. Man surrenders.”

• In “Nothing”, he reflected on humility learned through work—from moving irrigation pipes at age ten to rebuilding life after professional collapse.

• Posts like “Your Burning Bush!!” described faith conferences and personal revelations, connecting biblical narratives to modern life.

• Others, such as “God’s Love”, offered pastoral encouragement, reminding readers that divine love endures beyond all human failings.

Taken together, these writings turned the website into a digital confessional—a place where an ordinary man documented an extraordinary awakening.

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Collaborations and Musical Dimension

One of the unique aspects of David Sample’s creative world is the fusion of poetry and song. Though he began as a writer, his book was accompanied by recordings of original music—some performed a cappella, later arranged with accompaniment. Sample credited musicians Steve Eaton and Lewis Greer for helping bring his songs to life. Greer, known for co-writing “Dot Com Blues,” contributed to shaping the tone of the musical pieces that paralleled the spiritual poems.

This musical element gave DavidLeeSample.com a multi-sensory appeal: visitors could read the poetry and listen to the songs that inspired them. For an artist whose message was about inner harmony, combining text and melody made perfect sense.

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Faith and Social Engagement

The Dignity Center Idea

Among the more striking discussions on the site was a conversation about homelessness and dignity. Sample corresponded with others—such as community volunteers in San Jose—about founding a “Dignity Center” to serve fundamental needs of unhoused individuals. His compassion for marginalized communities revealed a consistent theme: redemption not only for oneself, but for society at large.

Local Church and Community Work

Sample frequently mentioned his involvement with a small Covenant Church in San Jose, which partnered with City Team Ministries to provide meals and outreach. His posts portrayed these acts not as charity but as shared humanity: “Tomorrow we are serving food to many of the homeless community here… Can’t wait to meet them and hear their story.”

Through such writing, DavidLeeSample.com became more than a literary site—it functioned as a platform for service, humility, and shared faith.

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Artistic Influences and Philosophy

David Sample’s writing reflects the traditions of spiritual autobiography, American free verse, and Christian mysticism, echoing voices like Kahlil Gibran, Mary Oliver, and John O’Donohue. His corporate background lends his reflections a grounded pragmatism—poems about grace coexist with stories about waiting tables, moving sprinklers, or selling copiers.

He described his creative process as “writing from within,” suggesting that inspiration was less an act of composition than revelation: “The well is open and out they fly… thoughts and images all collide… created as one.” This sense of spiritual dictation gives his work an immediacy that readers often describe as raw and authentic.

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Audience and Cultural Significance

The audience drawn to Listen to the Whisper and DavidLeeSample.com tends to be spiritually curious but non-dogmatic—readers seeking renewal through art rather than doctrine. Many reviewers noted that the book helped them recover faith after personal hardship, echoing the author’s own story.

The website also resonated with the early-2010s wave of independent spiritual media, where self-published authors and musicians used online platforms to share testimony outside traditional religious institutions. In that sense, DavidLeeSample.com is part of a broader cultural movement that democratized spiritual storytelling—proof that faith-based art could find its audience directly through the internet.

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Legacy and Preservation

When the original website went offline around 2015, many fans expressed disappointment. Some readers had discovered it by chance—one even claimed that a mistaken Google search for “Super Bowl” led her to Sample’s work, calling it divine intervention. Years later, the domain was revived by a new steward dedicated to preserving the site’s content so that it would not be lost or repurposed.

This act of preservation highlights the continuing resonance of David Sample’s message. In an age of fleeting digital media, the effort to restore his writings reflects a shared belief that certain works—particularly those that touch on faith, purpose, and resilience—deserve to remain accessible to new generations.

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What Makes Listen to the Whisper Enduring

1. Universal Experience: It deals not with lofty theology but everyday pain—divorce, fear, loss, and recovery.

2. Accessible Language: The poems use plain English yet convey complex emotion.

3. Integrative Art: The combination of poetry, song, and reflection appeals to both the analytical and emotional sides of readers.

4. Redemptive Framework: It offers a story of second chances, aligning with a core spiritual longing that transcends denomination.

5. Community Response: Readers actively engaged with the site through comments, emails, and personal testimonies, turning it into a living dialogue.

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Broader Context: Faith, Media, and the Digital Age

DavidLeeSample.com also reflects how faith-based creativity adapted to the digital era. In the early 2010s, self-hosted websites became essential for independent authors and musicians to bypass publishers and distributors. Sample’s site represented this shift perfectly: privately run, minimalistic, and deeply personal, it gave visitors direct contact with the artist’s voice—something increasingly rare in the algorithm-driven landscape of modern social media.

While many spiritual sites chase visibility, Sample’s approach was rooted in sincerity rather than marketing. He didn’t optimize for search rankings or advertising revenue; he simply shared his story. That modesty may explain why those who found the site often described it as a hidden blessing—discovered almost by accident, yet remembered vividly.

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Though the original version of DavidLeeSample.com is now archived, its essence endures in the hearts of those it touched. The website and its companion book Listen to the Whisper together form a portrait of an artist who transformed personal hardship into creative healing, blending poetry, music, and faith into a unified expression of hope.

David Sample’s life work reminds readers that inspiration rarely arrives in thunderclaps; it comes, instead, as a whisper—quiet enough to miss, yet powerful enough to change a life. His website may have been small, but its spirit was immense: a testimony to the enduring power of words and the quiet courage of a man who learned to listen.

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