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.

Open Door

 Stardate 08.02.2026

Yesterday began with a simple decision.

Since I'm away from home on assignment, I studied my schedule to see if there was an opportunity to attend Mass with Helen. There was only one opening. I asked if I could leave work a few minutes early, and everything came together.

It reminded me that making room for God doesn't always require a major change. Sometimes it begins with protecting a small space in an otherwise busy day.

Worshiping beside Helen was the gift I needed. The readings invited me to look again at the compassion of Jesus. Before He met people's physical needs, He saw them. He welcomed them. He made time for them.

After Mass, we found a family restaurant neither of us had visited before. We lingered over a simple meal, enjoyed each other's company, and let the pace of the day slow down. There wasn't anything remarkable about the restaurant itself.

The time together was the gift.

Later that afternoon, as I was preparing to leave, someone I had only recently met stopped me with an unexpected request.

"Would you pray for me?"

For a brief moment, everything else faded into the background.

I told him I would.

As I drove home, I couldn't help but think about how the day had unfolded. I had adjusted my schedule so I could spend time with God. Somewhere along the way, God quietly prepared me to be present for someone else.

I don't know where that conversation will lead.

I simply know that today I'll have another opportunity to serve.

Doors don't always open with grand announcements. Sometimes they open with a quiet question, an ordinary conversation, or a simple request for prayer. We don't have to force them open. We only need the willingness to walk through them.

"When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them...'" — Mark 6:34

Jesus noticed people before He taught them. He loved them before He led them. That's the pattern I hope to follow, one encounter at a time.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you keep expecting the important moments to arrive with a fanfare."

Spock: "Experience suggests they usually arrive disguised as ordinary conversations."

Bones: "Then I'd keep listening if I were you."

Yesterday reminded me that God often opens doors quietly. My job isn't to push them open. It's to recognize them with gratitude, step through with faith, and serve the person waiting on the other side.

Thank you for spending a few moments with me today. I hope you'll notice an open door in your own journey, however quietly it appears.

Someone Who Knew

 Stardate 08.01.2026

Every day on this assignment has introduced me to someone new.

Yesterday it was a teammate whose role had been limited by an injury. She couldn't do all the physical work yet, so we spent some time together in our temporary office as we welcomed new members.

Whenever I meet someone for the first time, I enjoy hearing their story.

She told me she had spent most of her career in sales. The part that caught my attention came later. She had been a licensed real estate agent and, more importantly, a productivity coach for a major real estate company. Her work wasn't simply selling homes. She helped successful agents become even better at what they did.

That immediately changed the way I listened.

People who spend years helping others reach their potential often notice things the rest of us overlook.

As we talked, she mentioned she had been quietly watching me interact with our new teammates throughout the day.

Curious, I asked, "How am I doing?"

Without hesitation she smiled and said, "You were born to do this."

Her words caught me off guard.

Then I laughed and told her I probably picked up my gift of gab years ago when I kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. Helen warned me not to do it because she insisted I didn't need any more blarney.

She may have been right.

We both laughed.

As the conversation settled, I found myself grateful—not simply because of the encouragement, but because of who it came from.

God has a remarkable way of placing people in our path at exactly the right time. Sometimes they offer practical help. Sometimes they share wisdom. And occasionally, they help us see a gift we've become so accustomed to using that we've forgotten it is a gift at all.

I'm thankful our paths crossed.

I have a feeling her greatest contributions are still ahead of her once she fully recovers. I'll be cheering her on from the sidelines.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for spending a few moments with me today. I hope someone crosses your path this week with just the right words at just the right time.

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you know, not everyone gets a career review from someone who's spent a lifetime spotting potential."

Spock: "Indeed. Encouragement carries unusual credibility when offered by one who has devoted a career to recognizing the strengths of others."

I smiled as I thought about our conversation. Sometimes God sends exactly the right person at exactly the right moment, and all that's left to do is say, "Thank You."

The Power of Two

 Stardate 07.31.2026

Sometimes the best days aren't marked by one extraordinary event. They're built from a series of ordinary moments that all go right—a safe arrival, meaningful work, good food, a walk hand in hand, and gratitude for being exactly where God has placed you.

Yesterday was one of those days.

As I reflected on everything that happened, one simple idea kept returning to my mind.

The power of two.

Scripture has always fascinated me on this point. When Jesus sent His followers out, He sent them two by two. There was wisdom in that approach. Encouragement travels well when someone is walking beside you.

Yesterday didn't begin that way.

An unexpected rush meant our team needed to spread out to help as many people as possible. Working alone was simply what the moment required.

Later in the afternoon, the opportunity changed.

I was paired with a supervisor who wanted to learn a process I know well. I asked if she wanted to take the lead while I supported her.

She smiled and admitted she'd rather watch first.

A few minutes later, a recently retired couple came over. As we talked, I learned the husband had served as a pastor for forty years. They arrived with a clear idea of what they wanted, but as our conversation unfolded, another possibility came into view.

The pastor listened carefully while doing what many loving husbands naturally do. He was looking out for his wife.

His wife leaned in.

She asked thoughtful questions.

Her excitement grew as she understood the options available to them.

With a grin, the pastor looked at me and said he thought he was beginning to lose his protection status.

I laughed.

"I think you are," I replied. "She's getting excited."

By the end of our conversation, they chose a path they hadn't expected when they first walked over.

After they left, my teammate looked at me with genuine surprise.

She wasn't surprised by the outcome as much as she was by the conversation itself—how trust had been built one question, one answer, and one smile at a time.

I smiled and shared something I've believed for years.

"See one. Do one. Teach one."

She nodded.

The lesson had landed.

As I drove away later that evening, I thought about the day as a whole.

A safe arrival.

Meaningful work.

Dinner with Helen.

A quiet walk together.

One ordinary day filled with moments that pointed back to God's goodness.

None of those moments demanded attention on their own.

Together, they became a beautiful reminder that God often works through people who are willing to walk alongside one another.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
— Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with me. I hope you find someone to encourage today—and someone who encourages you in return.

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, I still say teaching someone while helping a retired pastor change his mind sounds like an exhausting afternoon."

Spock: "On the contrary, Doctor. Trust is often grows through patient observation before confident action."

Bones: "Well, however you explain it, two people working together accomplished more than either would have alone."

I smiled at that thought.

Yesterday reminded me that sometimes we're the teacher. Sometimes we're the student. Every so often, God lets us be both on the very same day.

The Baseline

Stardate 07.30.2026

Yesterday I shared the story of walking through the wrong door.

I didn't realize that story was only half finished.

I had arrived for a scheduled float therapy session during one of my days of rest and restoration. While looking for the entrance, I accidentally walked into the neighboring business, DexaFit, owned by Adam and Jessica Kuchnia.

After apologizing for interrupting their day, I started visiting with Jessica. She shared a little about what they do and explained one of their services—a DEXA scan.

I was intrigued.

The challenge was my schedule. I was away from home on assignment and couldn't promise I'd be available another day.

Jessica smiled.

"We can do it now."

That simple act of kindness changed the course of my afternoon.

A few minutes later, I found myself lying quietly on the scanner while it gathered information I had never seen before.

When the scan was complete, Jessica carefully walked me through each section of the report. We talked about body composition, bone density, visceral fat, muscle mass, and several other measurements that offered a clearer picture of my health than a bathroom scale ever could.

Then we arrived at one number that made me pause.

Biological Age: 73.

I'm 66 years old.

I sat quietly with that number.

The report wasn't offering a prediction. It was giving me a starting point.

I've spent much of this year trying to become a healthier version of myself. Daily walks. Better sleep. Strength training. My ongoing sardine experiment. Small choices that I hope will add up over time.

Now I have a baseline.

One day I'll return for another scan and discover what has changed. Until then, I'll keep showing up and doing the next right thing. Healthy habits rarely attract much attention. They quietly shape the future.

As I reflected on the experience later that evening, I found myself thinking less about the numbers and more about the people behind them.

Adam and Jessica Kuchnia welcomed a complete stranger who had wandered through the wrong door. They answered my questions, made room in their schedule, and treated me with genuine kindness.

If you happen to be in the Madison area and have been curious about your own health baseline, I can honestly recommend paying them a visit. At the time of my appointment, new customers could receive a DEXA scan for $99.

You'll find DexaFit at 376 Junction Road in Madison, Wisconsin.

Kindness has a way of leaving a lasting impression.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
— Psalm 90:12

If you've been enjoying these daily reflections, you're always welcome to join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for spending a few moments with me today.

I hope you'll welcome the unexpected opportunities that come your way. Some of life's most meaningful moments begin with a door you never intended to open.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: "Michael, every mission begins with accurate readings. The data simply tells us where the journey starts."

Bones: "Just promise me you won't spend all day studying the report. You've got another chapter to write."

I smiled as I imagined the conversation.

Yesterday the wrong door led to an unexpected meeting.

Today, I'm thankful I walked through it.

Stardate 07.29.2026

The Wrong Door

Stardate 07.29.2026

Some days don't go according to plan.

I've learned those are often the days God does His best work.

My mission yesterday was simple: rest and restoration. After spending five busy days away from home, I had been intentionally using my four days off to recharge before the next climb. On my final day of rest, I began with a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi before driving to an appointment that included an hour in a float tank followed by forty minutes in an infrared sauna.

When I arrived, I walked up to the reception desk to check in.

The receptionist searched for my appointment.

Nothing.

I pulled up my confirmation email on my phone, and she smiled.

"I think you're in the wrong suite."

She pointed me next door.

Before leaving, curiosity got the better of me.

"So...what do you do here?"

"We do DEXA scans," Jessica replied.

That immediately caught my attention.

Some of my tennis teammates recently announced a fitness challenge. Everyone who wants to participate contributes $100, but there's one requirement: complete a DEXA body composition scan before the challenge begins on August 1. The winner takes the pot.

I smiled.

"I'll be back."

The float tank and infrared sauna were every bit as restorative as I had hoped. During the hour in the float tank, I spent the entire session in prayer and meditation. By the time the lights came back on, I felt as though time had simply disappeared. I walked out refreshed, grateful, and convinced I had accomplished exactly what I had come to do.

Then I returned next door.

The scan itself was fascinating. It measured much more than body weight. Afterward, Jessica sat down with me to review the results.

One of the assessments estimated my biological age at 73.

That number didn't discourage me.

It gave me a baseline.

Over the past year, I've been paying closer attention to my health. My weight has come down. My sleep continues to improve. I'm in the middle of a ninety-day sardine experiment to see how increasing my Omega-3 intake affects my long-term health.

Now I had another piece of the puzzle.

Jessica patiently explained the areas where I could improve and offered practical suggestions for raising my health score over time.

I left encouraged.

Before walking out, I shared a little about my writing and my mission to donate every dollar of my book royalties to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. I asked Jessica if I could take a photo of her and her husband, Adam, and I gave them a couple of my books.

That's when the story took one final turn.

Jessica told me her day hadn't been going well.

Before I arrived, she had quietly prayed.

As we wrapped up our conversation, she smiled and told me my visit had lifted her spirits.

I smiled too.

I had walked through the wrong door, yet somehow we both left encouraged.

This morning I woke before dawn after one of the best nights of sleep I've had in quite some time. During more than an hour of meditation, I found myself reflecting on the previous nine days—the five-day assignment followed by four days devoted to rest and restoration. The rest had renewed my body. The honest measurements had given me a starting point. The unexpected conversations had encouraged my spirit.

It reminded me of climbing a mountain.

You don't stop at base camp because the journey is over.

You stop there so you're ready for the ascent ahead.

In about two months, I'll travel to London to spend time with my friends at DoNotAge and have the opportunity to meet the founder of the Horvath Clock. Looking back, it feels as though God has been preparing each step long before I could see where the trail was leading.

Sometimes the wrong door opens exactly the right path.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
— Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for walking this journey with me. May we all continue taking small, faithful steps toward better health, deeper purpose, and the next climb ahead.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: "Michael, accurate measurements are valuable only when they inspire meaningful action."

Bones: "And don't forget to appreciate that body of yours. It's carried you through more adventures than most people ever dream of."

I smiled as I considered both observations. Yesterday wasn't about finding perfect numbers. It was about preparing for whatever mission God places before me next, one faithful step at a time.