 If you grew up in the 90s, chances are you had a collection of action figures scattered across your bedroom floor. Back then, toys weren't just toys they became the stars of our imagination. We didn't just play with them; we became them.
For me, it all really started with the Power Rangers. Every kid had a favorite Ranger, and when we got together, everyone picked a character from the show. We would spend hours pretending to save the world, battling imaginary monsters, and acting out scenes we'd seen on TV. Looking back, it was simple fun, but it felt like we were part of something much bigger. Then came the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Ninja Turtles were epic because every sibling or friend could choose a different turtle to be. Someone was Leonardo, someone was Michelangelo, someone was Raphael, and someone was Donatello. We would create our own adventures and act out stories from the cartoon. The best part was that each turtle had a unique personality, so everyone naturally gravitated toward the character they related to most. As I got older, other heroes entered the mix. Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and even the characters from Dragon Ball Z became major influences. Spider-Man was especially memorable because he was my older brother's favorite superhero. Watching him get excited about Spider-Man made me appreciate the character even more. What made this era of Marvel and DC so special was the storytelling. The comic book heroes gave us youngsters hope. They showed us that ordinary people could overcome extraordinary challenges. As kids, we imagined ourselves wearing the cape, saving the day, and standing up for what was right but also just having fun. The stories were what really had me infatuated. I could always find something about a character that related to my own life. Maybe that's why these superheroes remain popular today. People connect with their struggles, their flaws, and their determination to do good despite the obstacles they face. If you asked me which heroes remain the most iconic today, I'd probably say Batman and Superman. Batman is fascinating because he doesn't have any superhuman powers. He fights criminals using his intelligence, inventions, training, and determination. His story is rooted in tragedy. After witnessing his parents being murdered, he dedicated his life to fighting evil and protecting others from experiencing the same pain. Despite his wealth, Bruce Wayne didn't become a selfish playboy. Instead, he used his resources to help people and make a difference. Superman, on the other hand, may have come from another planet, but his story is just as relatable. He was raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent on a humble American farm. They taught him values like honesty, responsibility, and compassion. Even though he possessed incredible abilities, he remained grounded because of the way he was raised. I think that's why these characters have lasted for generations. They aren't great simply because they're superheroes. Their greatness comes from hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and a commitment to doing what's right. Whether you're talking about Batman's relentless discipline or Superman's unwavering sense of duty, their stories inspire people to become better. The action figures may have been made of plastic, but the lessons behind them felt real. Every time we picked up a Ninja Turtle, a Power Ranger, Batman, or Superman, we weren't just playing with toys. We were imagining the kind of heroes we wanted to become. And for a kid growing up in the 90s, that was pretty special.
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 Remember that being a "yes" person doesn't mean abandoning who you are or letting go of your boundaries. The mind can lean toward negativity if your thoughts are always in that direction. But the reverse is also true: by embracing positive, open thinking and going with the flow, you can discover more joy in life. This approach doesn't require lowering your standards or compromising your value; it's about being open to the opportunities that God places in your path. These opportunities are gifts from Him, not from other people. Stop the negativity. Be more open to the situation and to others. Break the negative cycle because only you can choose to do so.  At some point, I came to a realization that changed everything.
This life won't last forever. The things I once depended on were temporary. People fail. Circumstances change. Opportunities come and go. Even our own strength eventually runs out. So where do we turn when everything else proves unreliable? I found who would sustain me forever. Him. The One who had been there all along. As I continue through this process, I know I am not walking alone. I have a real Father. One I can wholeheartedly trust. A Father who sees every struggle, every fear, every mistake, and still chooses to love me. His mercy found me when I was lost. His grace carried me when I couldn't carry myself. The world teaches self-reliance, but God teaches dependence on Him. Not because He wants weak people, but because He knows our strength was never meant to come from ourselves. I began learning that emotional control is power. Stay calm under pressure. Work even when you're tired. Learn self-respect or the world will use you. Set boundaries. Do not beg for validation. Walk away from disrespect. These principles matter, but they become truly powerful when rooted in God. Otherwise, they are simply self-improvement. With Christ, they become transformation. The difference is not merely becoming a better version of yourself. The difference is becoming alive. What I was searching for was never found in the world. It was found in the Father.  The title of this series gives me pause because, in many ways, I really was supposed to have died.
When I look back at the beginning, I see someone who was lost. I didn't know how to live well because I didn't even understand what life was. I chased things that couldn't satisfy me. I looked for answers in people, circumstances, and the world around me. Yet no matter what I gained or experienced, something was always missing. What I didn't realize then was that I was living as a dead man. Not physically dead. I was breathing, moving, and existing like everyone else. But spiritually, I was unresponsive. The Bible speaks of this condition as a person who appears alive by the world's standards but is separated from the life God intended. The world offers many promises, but none of them last forever. People will tell you that success, relationships, possessions, and status will fulfill you. Yet every one of those things eventually fades. Nothing on this earth was meant to sustain the human soul. I learned some hard truths:
These lessons are real, but they point to an even deeper reality: the greatest danger isn't what happens around us. It's what happens within us. A spiritually dead person can spend years chasing things that never satisfy. They can build a life while slowly losing their soul. I know because I was that person. I was alive, yet dead. A dead man living.  I’m quick to think.
I spend a lot of time alone, not because I hate people; peace is quiet, honest, and simple. In solitude I don’t chase attention, I’m completely comfortable with myself. I overthink everything, life, people, and mistakes, even small moments. I notice energy and tone shifts. When people are rude, happy, snarky, etc, I notice the difference in people, how they show up. Are they mad? Happy? What’s going on? I notice the small things. The big picture involves being able to notice the tone of other individuals so you can better equip yourself to deal with them. Maybe someone needs a kind gesture, a smile, a cup of coffee, or maybe a meal to share with you. It doesn’t always have to be extravagant. Maybe just show them you care. Maybe all they needed was for you to see them; for you to show up.  Learning and growing from your past experiences requires active reflection on both your wins and losses. That is just the beginning. You then have to apply those insights to present decisions. The more you engage in this process, the more you grow. It is a repetitive action that fosters growth. Reframing negative experiences as growth opportunities cultivates resilience. Imagine you just got a D on a school test. You don’t just quit school or settle for a low score. It simply means you need to study more next time. Or, even better, take the time to explore how you learn. That’s how you grow your diversity of thought and prepare yourself for the real world. Try setting new goals based on past outcomes to level up. If something failed before, or you didn’t accomplish everything you wanted to, tweak the steps or add new elements to find success. For example, if you are running a race and get a bad cramp along the way, you are not going to stop entering races. You want to keep all the training and preparation that worked in the first race, then enhance it by adding a preventative measure, such as drinking pickle juice before the race. Keep the consistency in your life of what is working, and build upon it to level up. Most importantly, maintain an inquisitive attitude. For me, I start every day by putting Him first. It is not my end goal to set, it is His. There may be something I am trying to achieve, but He often takes it further than I could imagine. Always be curious about what you do. We are all His children, and what do children do? They ask questions. They investigate. Being curious keeps the door open to new opportunities, perspectives, and growth. This mindset helps shape your future decision-making and supports continued growth. So was it monotonous or did you learn from what you did today? I am grateful to the Lord. I have broken a lot of my body, but He has shown me how to repair it. I have stumbled in the fire, but He holds me up to make it through. It has been many years of me trying to mend this broken vessel, but I know He walks with me through it all. I no longer worry about my destination. I don’t know how it will end, but I know He promises an abundance. In His Words I am assured. It is not about me. He promises abundance so I will hold on to that promise and make it through with Him.   Being chosen by God isn’t an easy road, but a fulfilled one. We always say “tomorrow,” but for some of us, tomorrow never comes. We are not promised tomorrow.
Choose the road less traveled. The "road less traveled" in the Bible refers to the narrow, difficult path of following Jesus, contrasted with the easy, popular road to destruction. Found in Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus teaches that while many follow the broad path, few find the narrow way that leads to life. Choosing the narrow road emphasizes obedience, faith, and righteousness over popular culture. The “road less traveled” will lead to suffering. That suffering will sometimes mean being left out, being ridiculed, being laughed at, being lonely, and being in despair. There might even be more extreme suffering, such as physical persecution. The narrow path is not the popular one, and it is not chosen by very many people. It might require you to leave your friends and your family behind who are not following the narrow path. It might also require you to leave behind other things that made you happy in the past or people who were important to you (but are not good for you). Despite the suffering, the “road less traveled” is the best choice, the right choice, the ideal choice. This life is short, and the destination is forever. Suffering well invites us to use obstacles and problems as opportunities for growing, strengthening, adapting, and changing. But most of all, it lets God have His way with us. About ten years ago, I would not have understood these words. These words would have sounded crazy to me and would have gone over my head. I would not have understood how suffering could be a good thing and could lead to good results. But after going through suffering, I began to understand. I began to see new things. I began to learn and grow. It didn’t happen overnight. It took time and thought and reflection and prayer. I came to realize that my suffering didn’t just happen TO me it also happened FOR me. I would never have chosen my suffering but, today, I say that God used it for good. |
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