The Patron Saint of Grocers

 Stardate: 08.09.2026

Sometimes a day begins with a simple recommendation.

Yesterday, several locals told me about a tower in a park near my hotel. They knew the area and said I should go take a look.

So I did.

On the way to the park, I met a couple who added another recommendation.

"Make sure you visit Holy Hill after you finish here."

I tucked that away and continued toward the tower.

I climbed to the top, took some photos, and then made my way back down.

The park had been worth the visit.

Now it was time to follow the second recommendation.

We drove to Holy Hill, where the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception stands above the surrounding countryside. The basilica honors Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I climbed the 178 steps to the top.

One step at a time.

At the top, I took more photos and enjoyed the view before making my way back down.

Then we stopped inside the basilica gift shop.

That's where I found the card.

It told the story of St. Michael the Archangel.

I turned it over and started reading.

Then I saw something I had never known.

St. Michael is the patron saint of grocers.

I stopped.

Seriously?

My name is Michael.

I work in the grocery business.

I am currently away from home helping open a new warehouse.

And yesterday, while visiting a basilica dedicated to Mary, I discovered that St. Michael the Archangel has traditionally been associated with grocers.

I had never heard this before.

The discovery sent me down a little historical rabbit hole.

The connection reaches back centuries. Medieval grocers dealt with valuable commodities that had to be measured carefully. Scales were part of their trade, and St. Michael is traditionally depicted carrying scales along with his sword.

The old merchant guilds also carried responsibilities involving honest trade, quality and service to their communities.

Suddenly, this wasn't just an interesting piece of history.

It was personal.

I had gone to a park because locals recommended a tower.

Along the way, I met a couple who recommended Holy Hill.

I climbed the tower.

Then I climbed 178 steps to the top of the basilica.

I took photos.

I came back down.

And in the gift shop, I happened to pick up a card that introduced me to a connection between St. Michael and the grocery business that I had somehow missed for 66 years.

I don't know what to make of that.

Maybe it was simply an interesting coincidence.

Maybe there is something more to it.

I'm comfortable leaving that question open.

I've learned to pay attention to these moments.

They don't always arrive with an announcement.

Sometimes they are waiting on the back of a card in a gift shop.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." — Psalm 91:11

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: "Michael, the probability of discovering your patron saint in a basilica gift shop after climbing 178 steps is intriguing."

Bones: "Spock, Michael doesn't need a probability. He needs to enjoy the discovery."

I think Bones has the right idea.

Yesterday gave me something I didn't know I was looking for.

A new piece of history.

A connection to my own name.

And one more reason to keep paying attention to the little things that happen along the journey.

I'm grateful for the discovery.

And I'm smiling at the thought that somewhere along the way, Michael the grocer may have finally met St. Michael the Archangel.

The Remedy Is a Walk in the Woods

 Stardate: 08.08.2026

Yesterday, we cut the ribbon.

The opening was successful. The work that had occupied so much of my attention for weeks reached an important milestone. There were people to meet, problems to solve, teams to encourage, and a thousand little details that needed attention.

Today is different.

I woke up knowing I had nowhere I needed to be.

Helen and I shared a quiet breakfast together. There was no rush to get somewhere. No schedule pulling us toward the next responsibility. We simply sat together and enjoyed the morning.

Outside, the sky is clear. The temperature is ideal for being outdoors, and there is a gentle breeze moving through the trees.

We are going hiking.

After weeks of living at a fast pace, walking the trails feels like exactly what we need.

There is something about walking that gives the mind room to settle. The body gets moving. Conversation happens naturally. Sometimes there are stretches of silence. You notice the trees. You notice the sky. You notice the people walking beside you.

Today, that person is my wife.

I have spent a lot of time during this assignment thinking about teams, leadership, responsibility and the people God has placed in my path. Those things matter deeply to me.

So does this.

There are seasons when the work demands our attention. There are also moments when the wisest thing we can do is step away from the work and allow ourselves to recover.

Jesus understood the need for rest.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
— Mark 6:31

Those words feel particularly appropriate this morning.

The trail is waiting.

The country around us is beautiful, and we have the opportunity to slow down long enough to enjoy it. Helen and I don't need a complicated plan. We need some time together, fresh air and a good walk.

Sometimes the remedy is that simple.

Yesterday was about opening a new chapter for a team.

Today feels like opening a little space in my own life.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, the evidence suggests that walking may be an effective recovery protocol.

Bones: For once, Spock, you don't need evidence. Just go take the walk.

Spock: Agreed. And Michael, perhaps today you should allow the Captain to enjoy the scenery.

There are plenty of days ahead for the mission.

For today, I'm grateful for a quiet breakfast with Helen, a clear sky, a little breeze and a trail waiting for us.

That is enough.

And maybe that is the point.

Live long and prosper. 🖖

The Ribbon

 Stardate: 08.07.2026

This morning, they cut the ribbon.

I was there.

I wasn't on the clock. I'm working the closing shift today, so I had the opportunity to stand outside the building and watch the moment as an observer.

The new employees were shining.

There was an energy around the building that was easy to feel. People were smiling. The doors were ready. The work that so many people had poured into this opening had finally reached its first morning.

Then I looked around and realized I wasn't standing there alone.

Some of the neighbors who had stood with me outside the building during those early days were there for the ribbon cutting. Standing beside me was the pickleball professional I had invited to attend. The manager from the hotel where I've been staying was there too.

People from different parts of this little chapter of my life had somehow gathered at the same place at the same time.

Then the ribbon was cut.

Just like that, the building became a store.

I stood there and watched the new employees begin their journey.

There is something special about watching people step into a new opportunity. They don't know everything yet. They don't have all the answers. They don't need to.

They just need to begin.

Afterward, I went back to the hotel and arrived around the end of breakfast hours. Emily offered to make me eggs and sausage.

I said yes.

There I was, sitting down to a simple breakfast after witnessing the opening of something that had occupied so much of my attention for weeks.

Eggs.

Sausage.

A ribbon.

A group of new employees beginning something together.

A few neighbors who had become familiar faces.

A pickleball friend.

A hotel manager.

A morning that somehow brought all of these pieces together.

I've spent a lot of time during this assignment thinking about leadership, teams, relationships, and the work that happens behind the scenes. This morning reminded me that eventually there comes a moment when you simply get to stand back and watch.

The doors open.

People walk in.

The team takes over.

And you give thanks.

I think there is wisdom in knowing when to step forward and when to simply witness what God has allowed to grow.

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:3

The ribbon is cut.

The work continues.

And for a little while this morning, I got to stand outside and watch a new team begin.

Now it's time for a little rest in the jacuzzi before tonight's closing shift.

I have a feeling the new employees are going to be just fine.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you spent weeks helping prepare for this day, and now you're sitting in a jacuzzi."

Spock: "A logical transition, Doctor. Even starships require maintenance."

Bones: "Just make sure our Captain remembers to eat something before reporting for the night shift."

Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is pause long enough to appreciate what has already happened.

The ribbon is cut.

The team is ready.

And I'm grateful I got to be there.

The Circle Keeps Growing

 Stardate: 08.06.2026

Golden Hour arrived a little later today.

Our schedule shifted because tonight is a special evening celebrating the opening of a new building. I'll spend part of the night serving cake while many of our newest employees have the opportunity to meet senior leaders. I find myself looking forward to watching those conversations unfold.

As I prayed this morning, my thoughts settled on the Serenity Prayer.

For many years, one line carried me through difficult seasons.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."

That prayer brought peace when life felt uncertain. There were seasons when accepting what I couldn't control was exactly what I needed to learn.

This morning another part of the prayer quietly found its way into my heart.

"The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Over time, I have discovered that my ability to influence others has grown in ways I never expected.

A conversation.

An encouraging word.

An idea shared with the right person.

Helping a new employee feel welcomed on the first day.

Teaching a company culture that has blessed my own life.

None of those moments seem particularly significant by themselves.

Years later, they begin to form a pattern.

Stephen Covey often wrote about focusing our energy on the things within our circle of influence. I understand that idea a little differently today than I did years ago. My circle hasn't grown because of a title. It has grown because God has entrusted me with more opportunities to serve faithfully.

That realization brings a quiet responsibility.

Every conversation matters.

Every person matters.

Every ordinary day carries the possibility of encouraging someone who may one day encourage thousands more.

I don't know what tonight will bring.

I simply hope to be present, grateful, and ready for whatever conversations God places in front of me.

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
— Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for walking this journey with me. I hope you discover that your own circle of influence may be larger than you realize.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, influence appears to expand in direct proportion to consistent acts of service.

Bones: I was going to say people trust the fellow who keeps showing up and helping. Sometimes science and common sense arrive at the same destination.

Michael: Today reminded me that wisdom isn't measured by how much control we have. It often grows one faithful conversation at a time.

The Work Before the Ribbon

 Stardate: 08.05.2026

This morning began the way I hoped it would.

Sleep gave way to quiet prayer. Meditation settled my thoughts before the day gathered momentum. My sleep report wasn't as strong as usual, although that wasn't a surprise. Our schedule has shifted this week to make room for family time, and I wouldn't trade those moments. Life has seasons. Over time, things find their balance.

Tomorrow morning, we'll gather outside a brand-new building. A ribbon will be stretched across the entrance. There will be smiles, photographs, speeches, and a community eager to see what has been taking shape over the past several months.

My thoughts kept returning to the people.

I thought about the teammates who have poured themselves into preparing every detail. I thought about the member who will walk through the front doors for the very first time. Somewhere tomorrow, someone will arrive carrying a burden that isn't visible. Another person may simply need a smile or a kind word before continuing with their day.

I hope I notice them.

Those moments rarely make the schedule.

They often become the reason we were there in the first place.

Looking back over the stories I've shared these past several days, I can see a thread I didn't recognize while living them. A prayer tucked inside a wallet. An unexpected conversation. A door that opened at just the right time. Small moments that quietly reminded me God is already at work long before we notice.

Tomorrow's ribbon will mark the beginning of something new for our community.

The work that matters most has already been unfolding through countless conversations, acts of encouragement, and ordinary moments of serving others with joy.

This morning I prayed a simple prayer.

"Lord, let every person I meet today leave with a little more hope than they had before we met."

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." — Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

If you've enjoyed walking this journey with me, I'd be honored if you continued traveling alongside us.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for spending a few moments with me today. May you discover that some of life's most meaningful work happens quietly, long before anyone applauds.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: "Michael, history often remembers the ribbon. Logic suggests the preparation deserved equal attention."

Bones: "Tomorrow folks will see a building. You'll be watching for the people who walk through the doors. That's always been your habit."

I smiled as I packed my things for another full day. Tomorrow may begin with a ceremony, yet today is filled with opportunities to encourage someone along the way. Those quiet encounters are often where God chooses to meet us.

Before the Ribbon

 Stardate: 08.04.2026

My day began long before the sun came up.

Ninety minutes of prayer and meditation gave me the quiet I needed before stepping into another full day away from home. My sleep tracker showed some of the best deep and REM sleep I've had in a while. I smiled when I saw the numbers, not because they were perfect, but because they reminded me that preparation often begins long before we realize it.

In two days, our team will welcome a new community through the doors of a new building. There will be a ribbon stretched across the entrance. Local leaders will gather. Cameras will capture the smiles. It will be a wonderful celebration.

As I thought about that this morning, another ribbon came to mind.

Back home, the volunteer board I've been privileged to serve with is moving closer to building new pickleball courts for our community. One day there will be another ribbon to cut. Children will play. Friends will gather. New players will discover a game that has brought so much joy into my own life.

I don't know if I'll be there for that ceremony.

My assignment may carry me somewhere else before that day arrives.

That thought didn't leave me disappointed.

It left me grateful.

Every ribbon marks the end of a season of unseen work.

Long before the photographs are taken, someone has attended meetings. Someone has answered questions. Someone has moved one small piece forward when nobody was watching. Those quiet moments rarely receive applause, yet they become part of every celebration that follows.

This week I've been reminded how much can happen through simple conversations, willing hands, and people who choose to serve wherever they are needed. The work itself has become its own reward.

The ribbon simply gives everyone a reason to pause and celebrate what faithful people have already been building.

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Wherever your work finds you today, remember that not every meaningful contribution receives public recognition. Many of the most important things we build are measured in trust, kindness, patience, and quiet perseverance.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for walking this journey with me. May God give you the grace to keep building, even when the ribbon is still somewhere in the future.

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you do realize people usually wait for the ribbon before they start celebrating."

Spock: "Doctor, the ceremony is merely the visible conclusion. The true accomplishment has already occurred through many faithful acts that preceded it."

Michael: I smiled. Most of life is lived before the ribbon. Today reminded me that every quiet act of service becomes part of something much larger than we can see.

The Prayer in Peter's Wallet

Stardate: 08.03.2026

Every person who walks through our doors carries a story.

Yesterday reminded me that if I'm willing to slow down and listen, God often reveals far more than I ever expected.

Peter and Laura stopped by because they live across the street from our new building. Peter wasn't there to exchange pleasantries. He came with concerns.

A lot of them.

After spending more than thirty years testing water throughout Wisconsin, protecting watersheds had become more than a career. It had become part of his calling. He had even stood before City Hall, warning officials that they were violating the city's watershed protection plan. From his perspective, a large new development in his neighborhood deserved careful scrutiny.

I understood.

So I listened.

I let Peter finish every thought before responding. When he had shared everything on his mind, I promised him that each concern would be addressed.

The atmosphere changed.

The conversation that began with uncertainty slowly became a conversation built on trust.

Then Laura shared something I never saw coming.

Her family traces its roots to the Lyon, one of the first ships to arrive in America after the Mayflower. Through that family line came Roger Williams, whose unwavering commitment to religious liberty helped shape the spiritual foundation of our nation.

I found myself marveling at how an ordinary conversation could suddenly stretch across four centuries of American history.

But God wasn't finished.

Peter reached into his wallet and carefully removed one of his most treasured possessions.

It wasn't a credit card.

It wasn't a driver's license.

It was a photograph.

Years ago, Peter was diagnosed with lymphoma. During that difficult season, his granddaughter Hannah, then just a little girl, knelt beside her bed and prayed that God would heal her grandpa.

Peter carries that photograph in his wallet as a reminder that God answered her prayer.

Today, Peter shares the Gospel with prisoners, giving away the hope that was first poured into his own life.

As he shared his testimony, I felt prompted to ask something unusual.

"Would Hannah pray for our entire team?"

Not a vague prayer.

A specific prayer.

Without hesitation, Peter reached for a pen and carefully wrote down my prayer request. He promised that when he saw seven-year-old Hannah, he would place that request in her hands.

For a moment I sat quietly, thinking about the privilege of inviting a child to join God's work through prayer.

Then came one final surprise.

Before Peter and Laura left, Peter reached out, took our hands, and prayed over our team. His words were rooted in the very Scriptures I had been meditating on—Isaiah 61 and Jesus' reading of that passage in Luke 4:18–19. Hearing those promises spoken aloud by a man whose life had been touched by God's healing gave them a depth I had never experienced before.

When the prayer ended, I realized something.

Peter and Laura had arrived with questions.

I thought my role was to serve them.

Instead, they had ministered to us.

They'll be joining us for Friday morning's ribbon-cutting ceremony, where I hope to introduce them to members of our senior leadership team. I'm looking forward to that introduction.

But the introduction I'll remember most has already happened.

Yesterday, God introduced me to a grandfather who carries a photograph instead of a trophy.

To a little girl whose prayers still echo years later.

To a family whose story stretches from the Lyon to the present day.

And to the quiet reminder that God's blessings are never meant to stop with us.

They are meant to be carried.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
— Luke 4:18–19 (NIV)

Yesterday those words stepped off the page.

Good news became a conversation.

Healing became a testimony.

Freedom became a grandfather who now shares Christ with prisoners.

Comfort became a little girl whose prayer is still blessing people she has never met.

God's mission wasn't unfolding from a pulpit.

It was unfolding around a table.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, in all my years, I've learned never to underestimate the faith of a child. I've watched medicine do remarkable things, but I've also seen prayer carry people farther than anyone can explain."

Spock: "An understandable conclusion, Doctor. While the mechanism may remain beyond scientific measurement, the results are difficult to dismiss. Hope has a measurable effect upon the human spirit."

Bones: "You know, Spock...every now and then you make a preacher nervous."

Spock: "Only because the evidence continues to support the conclusion."

I smiled as I imagined the two of them walking down the corridor together.

Peter may have carried a photograph in his wallet, but what he truly carried was gratitude. Hannah offered a simple prayer years ago, and Peter has spent every day since passing that gift forward.

Yesterday reminded me that the blessings God places in our hands are rarely meant to stay there. They become part of someone else's story, often long before we realize it.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Live long. Prosper in purpose. Walk boldly in His love.