November 15, 2025
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become.
Henrik Nouwen
Today is my 38th birthday, and I’m out celebrating with the kids (my birthday is really just an excuse for us all to have cupcakes, who’s kidding). While I never planned out my life to be the way it is today, I can say assuredly I’m so thankful it is.
Mike Tyson talked about how everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the face. I used to be afraid of those punches. I used to dread the possibility of a fight or encounter that could hurt me, and instead choose to suffer in avoidance.
Now I see those punches for what they are. Gifts from life itself, opportunities to evolve our souls into higher elevations. I welcome the punches. Because every punch is an invitation: hey, it’s time to grow. You wouldn’t have this chance if you weren’t perfectly capable of rising to the occasion. So do what you were meant to do. You got this.