Making Room for What Matters
Sadie and I’s first date
Making Room for what Matters
There was a season in my life when I was doing everything, and I mean everything. I worked at the airport, volunteered at church almost daily, served as a trustee for my neighborhood civic association, was secretary for the community council, ran Leaders of Today, sat on a few other nonprofit boards, and stayed heavily involved with COLA. If there was a meeting, I was probably in it. If there was a group, I was probably leading it.
On paper, it looked great. I was productive, driven, and serving all over the community.
Then one day, I realized there was one thing missing from my jam-packed schedule: time.
The Moment I Decided to Slow Down
I remember thinking, I’d like to have a girlfriend one day.
And then slowly realizing, Well, that’s not going to happen unless I make some time for her”
I had filled every inch of margin with activity. So I made a decision that felt simple but turned out to be one of the hardest I’ve ever made:
I started cutting things out.
I stayed at the airport and kept leading Leaders of Today, but I stepped back from a lot of the other things. I wasn’t at church as much. I quit most of the community organizations. I slowed down on some of the COLA commitments.
And I’ll be honest — that was not easy. I loved those roles. I loved the people and the purpose behind them. But I realized I was living so full that God had nowhere to work.
The Wait That Followed
After slowing down, I expected things to happen fast. (That’s usually how we think slowing down works, right?) But the truth is, nothing happened, at least not right away.
A year went by.
No girlfriend. No big revelation. Just… margin.
And that was the point.
Slowing down wasn’t about instant results; it was about trust. It was about making room for God to do something in His timing instead of mine.
Then, about a year later, I met Sadie.
We dated for about a year and got married seven months later.
Now, I’m not saying that if you cut back on your commitments, you’ll meet the love of your life in exactly twelve months. Life doesn’t work that predictably. But I do believe this, whatever you want God to grow in your life, you have to give Him the room to do it.
The Lesson: The Best Yes
Saying no was hard. It felt like letting people down. But I had to learn that saying no to something good is sometimes the only way to say yes to something better.
Busyness looks impressive. But purpose is fulfilling.
And purpose is what makes space for real growth.
If I hadn’t slowed down, I might’ve kept impressing people with how much I could handle, but I would’ve missed out on one of the greatest gifts God had for me.
Reflection
So here’s my question for you:
What’s crowding your calendar that’s keeping you from the things you actually care about?
What if the next right thing isn’t adding more, it’s subtracting?
What if your next breakthrough comes from creating space instead of filling it?
Sometimes, slowing down is the work.
And when you finally make room for what matters, you’ll realize God’s been waiting there the whole time.
Action Steps: Making Room for What Matters
Slowing down doesn’t mean quitting everything. It means creating space for what actually fuels you, or what you want most, and leaving room for God to move. Here are a few ways to start this week:
1. Audit your calendar.
Look at the next seven days and circle anything that doesn’t align with your priorities or values. You don’t have to cancel it all today, but noticing what’s stealing your time is the first step to getting it back.
2. Protect white space.
Schedule margin like it’s a meeting. Block off an hour with no agenda, no phone, no email, no scrolling, and see what shows up when you stop rushing.
3. Practice the power of “no.”
Say no once this week. Not because you’re lazy or disinterested, but because you’re prioritizing what matters most.
4. Let waiting work for you.
If you’re in a slow season, don’t fight it. God does some of His best work when we stop trying to control the timing.
Why I Write
I write these posts as part of my own design cycle — to reflect, learn, and grow as a leader, a husband, and a follower of Jesus. My goal isn’t to sound like I have it all figured out, but to share the stories, lessons, and experiments I experiance long the way.
I believe leadership isn’t just about titles or influence — it’s about how we show up every day. It’s the small choices we make, the way we treat people, and the courage to keep trying even when things don’t go as planned.
I also believe we should dream big — to imagine what could be, not just what is. Every great idea, every movement, every changed life starts with someone who believed it was possible. The design cycle gives us a framework to turn those dreams into something real: plan it, build it, reflect on it, and share it.
Through writing, I hope to help people build the confidence to lead right where they are— to think differently, lead boldly, reflect honestly, and keep trying even when it would be easier to quit. My goal is to remind each of us that leadership doesn’t start someday in the future; it starts right where we are. We’re not leaders of tomorrow — we are Leaders of Today. And in everything I do, my hope is to worship Jesus through the way I live, lead, and love others.
Use what you read here to build your own cycle of growth.
Observe. Reflect. Adjust. Share.
Dream big — and then, start again.