Month: May 2026

Dear Graduate,

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Now that you are formally entering adulthood, allow us to address a few more brief truths as you take these next few, albeit humongous steps…

First, there is that time for everything — every activity under heaven, every season under the sun. The reality is you will not enjoy nor desire each of these times. But one of the quiet truths in life is that how you respond to circumstance is typically more important than the circumstance itself. Such is a key to wisdom. Seek after wisdom. Always.

Remember that you have a choice in how you respond; too many forget that. Instead of intentionally seeking wisdom, they become self-focused or demanding. Resist that. Learn the difference between enjoy and embrace. Not every season is meant to be enjoyed, but every season can be embraced. When the time comes to tear down or turn away, embrace it. When the time comes to grieve, grieve. When the time comes to dance, dance — maybe even dance a lot. But in every season, remember that learning from the experience is far more important than becoming self-focused and demanding. The wise person learns and grows through each season, even the hard ones.

Second — and don’t let me shock you — but contrary to perhaps your long-held belief (or some fictional, parenting mantra) — you cannot be whatever you want to be. I’m sorry; remember… we are wrestling with reality. Similar to the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and jolly old St. Nick, there are a few things we’ve told you for some reason, that aren’t actually true. 

It is true that you cannot be whatever or whoever you want to be. Also true is that you are not entitled to any of those desired positions. However, you can be something better. You can be all that God created you to be. Embrace your gifts. Utilize the individual, unique wiring within you — the wiring that makes you distinctly and beautifully, uniquely you! Resist comparison. Don’t fall prey to society’s hollow teaching that another person’s wiring or set up is somehow better or worse than your own. Simply embrace your strengths and grow through your weaknesses. Quit attempting to cover them up. Seek God first; seek his intention for your life. Then be who he created you to be.

And third, our brief rapid-fire of encouragement… 

Love deeply. Offer grace generously. Never view grace and truth as opposites, as each can and should be applied in full measure. Wash your sheets — at least before you have company. Don’t be selfish. Be slow to anger. Be fast to forgive. Be humble. Forgive again. And again and again. Recognize that sometimes intelligence gets in the way. Intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing. Wisdom is better. Don’t be bitter; you will be the only one harmed in the long run. Eat healthy. Know when to not. Find the benefit in both fasting and feasting. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, as well. Separate the reds from the whites. Be charitable. Be noble. Save some; spend some; give some away. Don’t be afraid of sorrow. Recognize that you can feel sorrow and joy both at the exact same time. Turn off the XBOX. Watch out for the pitfalls of social media. Value other people. Be sharpened by their differences. Chew with your mouth closed. Don’t ever think of equality with God as something to be grasped. Listen to the elderly; invest in the young. Bow and curtsy when appropriate. Open the door. Show respect — in what you say and how you think. Be curious; not condemning. You can’t be both at the same time. Remember that respect does not mean accepting all as equally good and true. Know when to be loud — when to be silent. Look another in the eye. Put the phone down. Use your napkin. Be discerning. Be aware that just because something feels good, it doesn’t mean it’s wise. Be prayerful. Figure the faith thing out; know that another can’t do it for you. And embrace each and every season shared above… the time to laugh… the time to cry… the time to grieve… and yes, that time to dance.

There is a time for everything. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. 

Congrats, grads…

AR

While we always have a few special words for grads this time of year (and will share some on Sunday), Grammy-nominated country singer/guitarist Eric Church had some great ones last week in his commencement address at the University of North Carolina. It was excellent. Some called it the “best commencement speech” they’ve ever heard. Here’s some of what he had to say, in a message called the “Six Strings of Life”…

“Six strings: When all six are in tune, the chords they make can stop a conversation cold, carry a broken person through the worst night of their life, or make a room full of strangers feel for three minutes like they’ve known each other forever. But if even one is off, the whole chord unravels. Not gradually, not politely. The moment you strike it, you know.”

“Trust what your heart hears and is telling you about your song.”

Wonderfully…

AR

First… in Orange County, California, a suburb of Los Angeles…

A 14-year-old boy, riding an e-motorcycle, was reportedly seen doing wheelies in the middle of the street before allegedly striking an 81-year-old man. Authorities say the teen fled the scene. The elderly man later died from his injuries. Now, amid immense grief and heartbreak, the boy’s mother is facing criminal charges connected to the accident. If convicted, she could face years in prison.

There can be, in each of us, a subtle out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality. And yet this past week, in Orange County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando…

A 13-year-old boy named Colton was riding an e-scooter to buy flowers for his mother on Mother’s Day. He was traveling along a busy roadway with a 45 mph speed limit when he was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver remained at the scene, and authorities have not publicly determined what caused the crash. Two days later, Colton died from his injuries. He was deeply loved by his family, friends, and community.

Before going further, it’s important to distinguish between e-bikes, e-scooters, and motorcycles.

E-bikes are bicycles equipped with electric motors that assist with pedaling. They are generally lightweight, easy to maneuver, and capable of speeds around 20–28 mph. In many places, they require neither registration nor a license.

E-scooters are compact, fully electric vehicles with small wheels and no pedals. Their speeds typically range from 15–30 mph, and local laws regarding licensing vary widely.

Motorcycles are substantially more powerful vehicles built for higher speeds and longer travel, often exceeding 60 mph. They require licensing, registration, and formal regulation.

But regardless of the category, something larger is happening across our communities.

This is an easy space for shame to creep in — shaming government for insufficient laws, shaming parents for not being stricter, shaming kids for recklessness or immaturity. But shame rarely produces wisdom, and blame alone does not create solutions. Every generation has pushed boundaries, tested limits, and embraced new forms of freedom before fully understanding the risks attached to them.

Like it or not, we have a growing problem.

Cities across the country are navigating a new reality as e-bikes, scooters, and other motorized devices become increasingly common among young riders. Many children and teens are operating them before fully understanding traffic laws, road awareness, or safe riding practices — often without formal training or licensing requirements. Technology and accessibility have advanced far more quickly than education, expectations, and community safeguards.

So the question becomes: how do we respond together?

How can families, schools, churches, local governments, law enforcement, and neighborhoods collaborate to create safer pathways forward? What would it look like to prioritize practical safety education, age-appropriate guidelines, helmet use, clearer expectations, and honest conversations about responsibility before another family experiences unimaginable loss?

Because this is not ultimately about politics, bikes, parenting styles, or government policy alone. It is about people. It is about our kids. And regardless of what county the tragedy occurs in, these stories will continue unless we move beyond shame and toward shared solutions, shared responsibility, and a deeper commitment to protecting the next generation.

Respectfully…

AR

We’ve long had an affinity for the word “fascinating.” It’s a great word.

The best thing about it is that it’s neither good nor bad. It carries no inherent positivity or negativity. “Fascinating” simply means irresistibly drawing someone’s attention and interest. And plenty of things — both good and bad — do exactly that.

I’m fascinated by our adherence to childhood truths.

Of course, some deeply held childhood “truths” weren’t true at all: chewing gum doesn’t stay in your stomach for seven years; you won’t swallow eight spiders in your sleep this year; and the moon isn’t made of cheese.

But some truths endure. Sitting too close to the TV can strain your eyes. Carrots will aid your vision. And soap really does kill germs.

And sometimes timeless truths arrive wrapped in something seemingly absurd — if we’re willing to look closely enough. Take the Sneetches, for example.

The Sneetches came to us 65 years ago through the iconic imagination of Theodor Seuss Geisel — known best to us as Dr. Seuss.

They were furry, feathery, yellow, bird-like creatures who walked upright with arms instead of wings. In their community, there were two kinds: star-bellied Sneetches and plain-bellied Sneetches.

The star-bellied Sneetches were considered elite; the plain-bellied were shunned. Each group judged the other and was grateful not to be the other. As Seuss wrote of the star-bellied Sneetches: “With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort, ‘We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!’”

Then came a traveling salesman — better identified as a smooth-talking con artist — calling himself “the Fix-It-Up Chappie.” Née Sylvester McMonkey McBean offered the plain-bellied Sneetches a chance to imprint stars on their stomachs using his “Star-On machine.” Only three dollars each.

“Just pay me your money and hop right aboard!”

So they did. The plain-bellied Sneetches got their stars and, with them, access to elite status.

But the original star-bellied Sneetches feared losing what they perceived made them special. Ever the opportunist, McBean introduced his “Star-Off machine.” Removing stars, however, cost ten dollars each.

Soon Sneetches were running everywhere — stars on, stars off, then on and off again. Chaos followed. Judgment flourished. Their community fractured because they focused more on their differences than their shared humanity.

Eventually, though, the Sneetches realized the foolishness belonged to all of them, stars or no stars. By justifying reasons to look down on one another, they were destroying their own community.

“The Sneetches got really quite smart on that day… The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.”

A childhood truth that remains true today — and one we could still stand to learn from.

Fascinating.

Respectfully…

AR

It began as a tribute to one woman. Anna Jarvis to be exact.

Before that — according to National Geographic — it started as an anti-war movement. The goal was to promote peace in wake of America’s Civil War and Europe’s Franco-Prussian War.

This year $38 billion is expected to be spent in celebration of the day (with the highest spending category being jewelry and the most popular gift category being flowers).

The white carnation is the official flower of the day. Said Jarvis 99 years ago, comparing the flower’s shape and life cycle to a mother’s love, “The carnation does not drop its petals, but hugs them to its heart as it dies, and so too, mothers hug their children to their hearts, their mother love never dying.”

The US, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Belgium, and Japan are all celebrating Mother’s Day today, with over 90 countries hosting a celebration at some time during the year.

Mother’s Day is a sweet day. It’s a day we honor the unconditional love, sacrifice and nurture from first most important woman in our lives. Said iconic actress Sophia Loren years ago, “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”

Here’s to the wonderful person who always had to think twice.

But let’s take a moment to acknowledge this another one of those countless life situations where not everyone experiences the same thing. For some this day is painful…

Perhaps they’ve been unable to have children.

Perhaps they have lost a son or a daughter.

Perhaps they have a broken relationship with their mom. Or with their child, too.

Make no mistake about it. This is hard.

One of the things I believe would make all of us wiser is learning to stop expecting everyone else to experience life the way we do.

Our stories are different. Our circumstances have not been the same. What comes easily for one person may be deeply painful for another. And often, the same day that brings joy to someone can bring grief, longing, regret or loneliness to someone else.

That reality does not make one experience more valid than another.

We are capable of holding two truths at the same time. Celebration and sorrow are not competitors. Joy for one person does not diminish the pain of another, and pain does not invalidate joy.

We can celebrate with someone else while quietly mourning ourselves. We can smile across the table while carrying an ache no one else can see. We can feel gratitude and grief, peace and hurt, fullness and absence — all at once. Sometimes within the very same moment.

Mother’s Day is beautiful for many. It is also difficult for many. Acknowledge that. Be sensitive to it. Extend grace where you can.

And perhaps that’s what days like this should remind us most: not everyone walks through them the same way.

So celebrate if today gives you reason to celebrate. Grieve if today brings grief. And if somehow you are carrying both at once, know that you are not alone in that either.

Happy Mother’s Day, friends… a special shout out to the moms who are dear to me…

Warmly…

AR

A message from the bipartisan No Labels, as sent in an email this past week from Ryan Clancy, the Chief Strategist. This is good. Also concerning…

This week, Fortune ran a feature on the No Labels booklet Nightmare on Main Street, our oral history of an American debt crisis told from the vantage point of 2029. The piece compared it to the viral AI doomsday essay that briefly tanked software stocks earlier this year and zeroed in on a line that captures why we wrote it: Washington is not going to solve this debt problem until it is forced to. 

We wrote Nightmare on Main Street as a wakeup call. On our current course, something like the scenario it describes is going to happen. The country is sleepwalking toward it. 

Consider the reporting in the past two weeks alone: 

• The gross national debt crossed $39 trillion, and Washington added the last trillion dollars in less than five months.  
• Just this week the publicly held portion of the debt surpassed 100 percent of our nation’s GDP, the first time that has happened since 1946. 
• Net interest payments are now expected to hit $1 trillion this fiscal year, which is more than the entire defense budget.  
• The Congressional Budget Office now projects the federal deficit will balloon from $1.9 trillion in 2026 to $3.1 trillion by 2036. 

The most respected voices in finance see what is coming. Jamie Dimon, the longtime CEO of JPMorgan Chase, told an investment conference in Oslo this week that on the current trajectory there will be some kind of bond crisis, and then policymakers will have to deal with it. Hank Paulson, who served as Treasury Secretary during the 2008 financial crisis, warned this month that confidence in U.S. Treasury securities is starting to break down and that demand could eventually collapse. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has called the trajectory unsustainable and said it will not end well. 

These are the people who have firsthand experience with the plumbing of the global financial system, so when they sound the same alarm at the same time, it is worth listening. 

The chart below shows six warning signs that typically precede a sovereign debt crisis. Not one of them currently reads as stable for the United States. 

The reason No Labels keeps returning to this issue is that a debt crisis affects every aspect of our politics and public lives, not just our economy. The Great Depression sent millions of Americans into the arms of demagogues at both extremes. The Communist Party of the USA was filling Madison Square Garden in the 1930s, and fascist movements began to take over Europe. When ordinary life breaks down, people become more willing to back whoever promises to burn the system down. And in every case, the result is worse than what came before.

Right now, the debt is an issue most Americans do not think about, but that can change overnight. In early 2020, COVID went from a story most people skimmed past to the central fact of every life in a matter of weeks. A failed Treasury auction, a sudden spike in yields, a bank that cannot meet withdrawals: any of these could move the debt from page A14 to the only thing anyone is talking about.

Washington has shown no real appetite for getting ahead of this. The most recent budget proposal from the White House would push defense spending past $1.5 trillion while leaving the structural deficit untouched. Congress has yet to advance any serious plan to bring annual deficits below the 3 percent of GDP benchmark that economists across the political spectrum agree is sustainable. Both parties have signed off on the binge, and neither has taken responsibility for the bill.

This issue will not be solved until the American people force it to be solved. That is the work in front of us, and it is the work we are going to keep doing…

Respectfully… from No Labels…

AR

Let us begin today’s post with a candid message of grace. In fact, let every post and opinion be laced with it. That feels missing from our culture in many spaces. We are quicker to say, “let me tell you what I think,” than to consider whether our words are offered with grace and without judgment. Too often, we are not skilled at sharing perspective without passing judgment on people.

If you are one whose life or relationship has been hurt by adultery, I am so sorry. I know that is painful. I pray you have been able to move forward, free from lingering bitterness, and have found a pathway to thrive again.

If you are one who has partaken in an adulterous relationship, I am also sorry. I hope you have recognized the folly of your behavior and have made amends as much as possible for those you hurt along the way. I pray you have repented, found forgiveness, and learned a wiser way.

While much of the NFL focused last weekend on its annual draft, the sports world, celebrity news, and human-interest media turned their attention to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former senior NFL insider reporter Dianna Russini. According to “Heavy,” it’s the “storyline that just won’t go away.” An account of the storyline is as follows:

On April 7th, the New York Post publishes pictures of the two at an adults-only resort roughly ten days earlier — holding hands, embracing, relaxing by a pool. Both are married to other people.

Both immediately deny any romantic relationship. Vrabel calls it an “innocent interaction,” dismissing any alternative narrative as “laughable.” Russini emphasizes that the images are misrepresented and notes that journalists regularly interact with sources.

On April 10th, the New York Times (owner of Russini’s then employer, The Athletic) acknowledges the photos and announces an internal investigation into Russini’s conduct. Four days later, she resigns, stating she will not subject herself to a damaging public inquiry fueled by leaks.

On April 21st, Vrabel addresses the media. His tone shifts — more measured, less dismissive. The word “laughable” is gone.

Two days later, additional photos surface from six years prior showing the two alone together, touching and kissing. Russini would go on to become engaged within months and later have a child, naming him “Michael.”

Again, let none of us pile onto the wounds of another. But factually speaking, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Vrabel and Russini lied. And now, their personal behavior carries very real professional consequences.

This is sobering.

Adultery is one of those timeless behaviors that leaves a wake of damage. It destroys trust, creates deep emotional wounds, and often fractures far more than just one relationship. The ripple effects are real. The damage is real.

The lying compounds it. In the attempt to deceive others — as seen in Vrabel’s initial deflection — the deeper deception is often internal. A quiet effort to convince oneself that what is clearly wrong might somehow still be justified.

Let us be clear: it is not.

Too often, current culture shrugs at this reality. It minimizes, excuses or even packages it as something glamorous or inevitable. History — both public and private — tells a different story.

Let’s be clear: this is not about shaming people. But neither is it about pretending that destructive behavior is harmless.

We can extend grace without rewriting truth.

Adultery is damaging.  

So let us not ignore it. Let us not normalize it. And certainly, let us not celebrate it. Instead, may we be people who tell the truth about it — clearly, soberly and with grace — and who choose, even when it is difficult, a better and more faithful way forward.

Respectfully… 

AR