Recently I was sitting in a coffee shop, enjoying my cup of coffee and simply looking around. Allowing time to observe opened my eyes to see people surrounding me, people who have stories and lives. Allowing time to observe opened my eyes to the setup of the coffee shop, and how the tables were arranged and the menus were displayed. Allowing time to observe usually opens our eyes to see something we may not typically notice. And that is what happened during this morning at the coffee shop. I noticed a timeline on the wall. This timeline represented the story of a bean of coffee. It illustrated the process of planting, growing, harvesting and brewing, ultimately creating the cup I was enjoying in that moment.

Galatians 6:4 says, “But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.”

I started to reflect on how my life would look if I was that coffee bean up on the wall. What would my timeline illustrate? What points would be emphasized and expounded upon? Four years ago I was at Hofstra University. The name was fresh in my mind since it was just a few weeks ago the first presidential debate took place there, a debate we might continue to hear about for years to come. When I was there only a handful of years earlier, I was not there for a debate but instead for a Superstorm Sandy relief concert hosted by the college.

Little did I know this would be the event that shaped my future and the reason I am doing what I am doing today.

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

It was at this concert I was introduced to an organization that I had never heard of, nor knew would have such an impact on my life from the opportunities that would soon come from it. This is when I encountered Next Step Ministries.

In a way, this is what started my whole ministry on a larger scale. Yes, I was always involved in helping others and making an impact in the ways I could, but investing into my position at Next Step has significantly altered what I believe would be shown on my timeline on the wall, if my story was there instead of the coffee bean.

When was the last time you looked back and was in awe of where God has brought you? When did you last examine your own life? What would your timeline look like from the past four years?