Start a Wave: How a Single Moment Shifted My Journey

When the Trail Led to the Water

There are moments that mark you forever. Moments that feel like they were etched into your story long before you ever took your first step. I didn’t expect to find one of those moments on what I thought was just another hike. But sometimes, Heaven writes in the ordinary, and if you're willing to walk it out, you just might find yourself standing at the edge of something sacred.

Here’s what happened:

I didn’t plan to end up at the ocean.

I was hiking. With dusty boots, a messenger bag slung over my shoulder, my mind quiet but expectant. The path was peaceful, wild in the way that makes you feel small and known all at once. Then, just like that, I felt the ground beneath me shift a little, and the trail faded into sand. The trees behind me disappeared, and I was standing at the shoreline, the waves stretching wide like an invitation.

I didn’t hesitate. I walked straight in, fully clothed, boots, bag, all of it, and dove beneath the surface like I had done it a thousand times before.

And somehow, I could breathe.

Not gasp-for-air, struggling-for-survival breathing. No, this was natural. I belonged in the water just as much as I belonged on land. It didn’t surprise me.

As I swam, my eyes stayed open, searching. I didn't know what for, but then I saw it. Off in the distance was something glowing faintly beneath the surface. I swam toward it without question. I knew it was there waiting for me. Nestled in the ocean floor was a treasure chest.

I opened the lid, and inside were just three things:
📖 A book.
🖊️ A pen.
💠 And a glowing opal sphere, just smaller than a bowling ball, but light in my hands, alive somehow.

I slipped them into my messenger bag and started swimming back, still breathing and feeling fully alive. When I stepped back onto the shore, everything had changed.

Fire, Angels, and a New Path Forward

The beach was alive with angels; some soared, others laughed, rested, or talked. But a small group stood gathered around what looked like a fire pit. It wasn’t burning, but they were waiting for me to get it going.

They turned as I approached and nodded toward my bag.

I reached in and pulled out the opal. Warm. Steady. With authority. I stepped into the circle and gently placed it at the center of the pit.

The moment my hand let go, fire roared to life.

Not just any fire, this was holy. It danced in blues and golds, reflecting purpose and presence. The angels celebrated. We laughed and cried. I had no idea why, but I knew it was right. I felt it in my spirit...something had shifted.

Something had started.

Then I saw Him.

Jesus walked toward me, smiling like He’d been watching the whole time. He carried a new pair of hiking boots in His hands. Worn, but not by me, prepared for me.

He handed them over and said,
“You now have everything you need for what’s next.”

And I believed Him.

I laced them up. They fit like they were made just for this moment.

The fire behind me still burned. The ocean still called. But I knew what I carried now had to move forward. The story wasn’t staying here. It was going with me.

The journey began. To where, I didn't know, but I hugged Jesus and began the hike.

Those boots have carried me through valleys I never saw coming; through pain, heartbreak, trials, and healing. I’ve climbed through grief, run through storms, and stood when I should’ve fallen. But those words stayed with me:

You have everything you need.

And now, looking back, I see it clearly.

I was prepared.
Not for ease, but for endurance.
Not for comfort, but purpose.

And I’m grateful to say…

I’m soon to arrive.

The ripple has become a wave.

And I’m still walking forward.

The Journey Since That Day

But here's the thing...

As real as it all felt, none of it “happened” in the physical. This story began as a prophetic dream I had years ago, which still feels more real than some of my waking moments. It’s one of the reasons you’ll often find me wearing opals. That dream marked me.

And as fictional as breathing underwater may sound… as unreal as an opal starting a fire might be… in ways, it really did happen. Spiritually, emotionally, prophetically...it happened. And it carried me through years of walking through hell.

Mike has known about this dream since it happened, but I kept it to myself until I shared it with a beloved friend for the first time last week.

Before I continue, I want to share a bit of timing here because it matters.

After months of prayer, planning, and preparation to rebrand Jesus House, we officially began the process last week. If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed the shift. We’re now calling it Ripple.

The tagline?
Make a Wave. Create Impact.

It’s not just a name. It’s a movement. And stems from the dream I just shared with you.

Which brings me to today…

Someone I met through my love of running sent me a song called Start a Wave. She mentioned how beautiful the message was. Before I hit play, I saw the graphic... my heart leaped.

In the center of the image was an opal. Surrounded by fire-like ripples. And although it's Disney characters surrounding it, it reminded me of the angels from my dream. I hadn’t even heard the melody yet, but I knew.

It was God.

I clicked play, wondering if it was all in my head. A few seconds in, my eyes filled with tears. The kind that aren’t just about emotion; they’re about recognition. When your spirit knows God is all over this. (At the end, I'll share the lyrics with you as it beautifully articulates the heart behind the rebrand to Ripple.)

God is incredible. Having a relationship with Him is… priceless.

And with that, I'll leave you with one more thing.

That same friend who sent the song said something else that stayed with me:
“Life is beautiful and hard. Keep going.”

And I smiled, because it’s true.

Life is hard.
But life is absolutely beautiful when you are one with the Creator.

That’s why I do what I do.
That’s why I write.
That’s why I speak.
That’s why I lead.
That’s why I love.

Because I want to help others love life, too.