By God’s grace

This is my story, and I hope it finds you right where you are. Nothing wildly good or bad has happened, but over the past few months God has been catching my attention. As I’ve reflected, I realize the whispers have been there for a while. I have a pretty good life, no real complaints—a wonderful wife, amazing kids and grandkids, and a small circle of friends. All my problems are definitely first world. I try to live by a simple rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. I am by no means perfect, can be influenced by what’s going on around me, and have my opinions, but I really just want to be a good person and live by example. I fall short in many ways, but I give “it” and the people around me everything I have.

I was raised loosely around religion, experienced a couple of denominations, and have long been a skeptic—primarily because I saw people bending and twisting things to fit their mold and casting stones from glass houses. Still, I’ve had moments with God out hunting on ridges, on mountainsides, under star‑filled skies, in successes and failures, in the “I did it” moments, the “what’s the lesson?” moments, and even a few “why?” moments. I have looked up and given thanks in good times and bad times with no real recognition, just a clear understanding that things aren’t by chance—maybe “just enough faith.” That’s why I am here in this moment: because of the sparks, whispers, signs, and a couple of conversations that I could no longer ignore.

Some of those moments came from the most unexpected places and people. A Buddhist monk sold me a “Peace and Light” bracelet in Hawaii, by sold I mean put it on my arm, looked me square in the eyes and said “peace and light” with a “donation” list and amounts ready for the next tourist and my immediate reflection that followed led me to God’s peace and light. On a drive home from a trip to New Mexico, my usual road trip music blaring at 30 the iTunes playlist suddenly shifted to Christian music. I was taken back but I didn’t change it. I just listened, jammed to some of it and in moments was overwhelmed and teared up for no obvious reason. During archery season I sent a bad arrow at a bull on what should have been an chip shot, in frustration found myself on my knees, somehow knowing that was exactly where He wanted me. After a rough day in the field, Joe abruptly stopped the SxS to look me in the eye and say, “God loves you.” He said a bit more, but that’s what I heard. I found myself hanging on every word of Big O’s prayers at supper, and wanting more! If Gil wasn’t there, I would ask RC to pray. No doubt my guys can bless a meal, but God was cranking up the impact! I went and bought a Bible and a devotional, after a couple weeks of “sneaking around” for the lack of a better phrase. I brought all this to my wife who to my surprise immediately responded with “I know a church!” Four days later we are sitting in the back of Orchard’s 10:30 service.

The truth is, I wasn’t looking, asking, or even questioning. Life seemed good. There was no explanation for any of this except that God wanted me to know He was present and that He was meeting me right where I was—with all my doubts, unbelief, imperfections, sin, and “just living my life.” I hadn’t really prayed since our kids were at home around the dinner table, or on those occasions when someone needed a prayer, or was sick or just lost a loved one. But recently I’ve found myself praying, some for understanding but mostly acknowledging God’s undeniable presence, awkwardly at first, and just as clumsily grabbing a King James Bible and opening it to start reading the Word, trying to gain whatever insight I could. The door was open. The light was on. The path was cleared.

Through this, I’ve seen changes in my heart. A family member was having more drama with his ex, and instead of my old typical response, I decided—on my way out to hunt—that I would pray for her. I asked God to help her through her troubles and to show her His light and love just as He had been showing me. It turned out to be one of my best days hunting, and I know that if I had reacted the way I used to, that day would not have been what it was. I am responding to problems  and life a bit differently now. Instead of my usual reactions, I’ve actually stopped and prayed for people, prayed for strength, prayed that my life be through His will.

11/11/25—my wife’s birthday—I fully surrendered my control to Jesus. My wife needed clarity and help I knew I could not provide. It felt like God saying, “Here you go, choice is yours.” So I prayed, “Here I am, I’m giving it all to You. Lord, please shed the same light You have given me on her and help her through. Thank You for opening my heart and mind and unclenching my fists. Here I am; I am Yours.” Once again, He answered and once again, there was only one real explanation: His love, His grace, His perfect timing, and His knowing exactly who I am and exactly where He needed to meet me.

Again I wasn’t searching, I was just living life doing what I thought I should be doing. Nevertheless, God found me where I was, and I’ve seen and felt the changes. On 12/21/2025, I was baptized, I have given my life over to God.

I am still not perfect, I can’t quote scripture off the cuff, I definitely don’t have the answers to the worlds problems. But I do see through a different set of eyes!

As loud and pointed as all of this was to me I would be remiss to not mention the people God put in front of me to help all of this make sense, my brothers Dennis Stokes, Efren Gonzalez and Pastor Jake, Love you guys!

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17