Eight Reflections of Gratitude: Recognizing Life’s Blessings in Every Season
Introduction Gratitude doesn’t come only when life is easy. In fact, some of the most lasting thankfulness often grows out of trials, waiting, or surprise encounters that shift our perspective. Each of the stories below captures a different dimension of gratitude—from second chances and reconnection to the peace that follows loss. My hope is that […]
Five Stories That Reveal the Invisible Hand of Grace
We’ve all experienced moments that stop us — coincidences that feel too meaningful to ignore, decisions that change everything, or encounters that seem perfectly timed. In these five stories, I reflect on how guidance, purpose, and quiet grace often emerge in unexpected places — from boardrooms and hospitals to family homes and childhood streets. Together, […]
Eight Signs of Divine Intervention: My Miraculous Healing After a Brain Hemorrhage
I truly believe that God was in control of every moment during my remarkable journey—from the accident that almost cost me my life to the surgeries that have forever changed me. A Cold Night on Cape Cod It began on a cold mid-November night on Cape Cod. My wife Sue and I were preparing for […]
From Capitol Hill to Conscience: A Leader’s Lesson
In 1984, I was Senior Vice President at Maccabees Mutual Life Insurance Company in Southfield, Michigan. I oversaw product pricing and finance—an enormous responsibility that required difficult decisions almost every day. My faith in God guided me, and my determination to “do the right thing” was always at the forefront. A Complex Industry Debate At […]
Finding Family Roots in Poland
Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries come when you least expect them. On a trip to Poland in 2009, I uncovered the true story of my grandfather, Ignatius Matusiak, who left his village in 1909 at age eighteen to start a new life in America. This journey deepened my faith, stirred my heart, and reconnected me […]
Unexpected Lessons from President Clinton
An Invitation to the White House In 2000, New York Life—where I held a senior leadership role—sponsored a PBS series on U.S. presidents. As part of the launch, a small group of New York Life executives, including myself, was invited to a White House reception hosted by President Bill Clinton. This was just months after […]
A Lesson in Cultural Differences
When my daughter Heidi was twelve and Dena was nine, I took them on a ten-day trip to Germany and Austria. Only three years had passed since I began a tradition of taking each of my children on annual one-on-one trips—a wonderful way for a busy executive to bond more deeply with each of them. […]
Discovery in Korea
A True Story of Adoption, Identity, and God’s Perfect Timing In early 1979, my wife Sue and I adopted our daughter Dena, a five-month-old orphan from Korea. At the time, we knew only the basics: she had been born to an unwed mother and cared for by a foster mother until she could travel to […]
Johnny’s Yard – A Story of Adoption, Divine Timing, and Unmistakable Grace
A Calling to Adopt Before we even knew we couldn’t conceive, Sue and I had always intended to adopt. We wanted to share our love with children who needed it most. In 1975, we adopted nine-month-old Heidi from Seoul, Korea—abandoned at birth on the steps of a church. Four years later, we adopted five-month-old Dena, […]
Finding Your Greatness: A Journey to Purpose and Impact
Searching for a New Direction In the mid-2000s, as I neared the end of my career at New York Life, I found myself reflecting on how to spend my retirement years. With a varied career behind me, I was seeking to discover a new direction—one that could combine my passions and my faith. My path […]