Thanksgiving 2025
Every year, Thanksgiving has always been a day I looked forward to—some of my favorite foods, laughter, and of course, all the leftovers. But this year felt different. Yesterday, I realized just how much has changed in my heart and spirit. Something inside me is shifting, opening in ways I’ve never felt before… or maybe ways I never allowed myself to notice.
For years, I’ve ignored spirituality for many reasons. Science and “proof” were always my guiding principles. If something couldn’t be tested, measured, or shown to be true, then I couldn’t bring myself to believe it. I also pushed spirituality away because of the judgment I’ve received from believers over the years—because of how I look. I love heavy metal, the color black, and I’ve been heavily tattooed for a long time. Some people have assumed that must mean I couldn’t possibly be a child of God. But now, I can see how untrue that is.
The more I learn about God and Jesus, the more I realize it has never been about the music we listen to, the clothes we wear, or the art on our skin. It’s about how we live, how we love, and how we honor what God has planned for each of us.
I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life—I’m divorced, I’ve mismanaged my money, I haven’t always been a great friend, and I can be selfish. I also tend to hold people to high standards and feel anger when they fall short. But looking back, I can see how many of those shortcomings came from a lack of spiritual connection and my unwillingness to even consider one.
About two months ago, after the assassination of a young political figure, I saw just how dark this world can be. People were openly justifying a young man being killed in front of his wife and children. It made me realize how spiritually distressed we are as a society—how numb so many hearts have become. Stepping back, I saw the true colors of people I never expected. The unwillingness to have dialogue, to disagree without dehumanizing, struck me deeply. For the first time, I asked myself: Is this what a lack of love does to us? Is this what happens when we lose our spiritual connection? Could I, too, be led down a path of hatred if I don’t stay grounded?
Throughout my life, I’ve always felt different—different in how I experience the world and connect with others. I’m able to meet people where they are, adapt to their personalities, and set aside the urge to control out of respect for their individuality. I feel things deeply. When someone I care about—professionally or personally—is hurting, I feel that pain with them.
This is why I do the work I do. Healthcare is stressful to its core, but it requires a calm many people don’t naturally have. When I first started in Critical Care, I was told my calm demeanor meant I lacked a “sense of urgency”—but the truth is, that calm has always been my greatest strength. It has shaped who I am as a medical provider. My patients feel safe with me because I create space for them to speak honestly. It reduces the guesswork, the uncertainty, and allows me to see them clearly.
So now, Thanksgiving isn’t just about stuffing and pumpkin pie. It’s about being grateful for who I am, what I have, and the spiritual connectedness I’ve finally allowed myself to feel. I’m truly thankful for the watchful eye of God. I’ve felt His presence for a very long time—quiet, subtle, unexplained—and I fought it because I didn’t think someone like me could possibly be Christian. A metalhead? Covered in tattoos? That didn’t fit the mold I thought existed.
But the truth is that God writes our purpose long before we understand it, and for those still searching, I encourage you to look inward and ask yourself, “Who am I, and what am I doing here?”
We aren’t here to spread hate, to insult, to refuse questions, to avoid learning, or to disconnect from those who think differently. We’re here in physical form to experience things we won’t experience after we die. Life is a gift—and someday, death will be beautiful in Heaven. Our time here has to be intentional and purposeful.
Be thankful. Love the people around you. Look for the beauty in this world—it’s there, even when it feels buried under negativity and darkness. There is so much good left to experience.
Happy Thanksgiving,
and may God bless you.
