Gather Together: Lighting the Way Through Life
“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life…” — Prince, 1984.
This has become the rally cry of Evie Jane: “Gather together to get through this thing called life.”
I cannot imagine where I’d be without my crew. They lean in when I go quiet, laugh at my ill‑timed humor, and endure my spontaneous bursts of song.
But it wasn’t always this way.
Ten years ago, I kept myself hidden from the world, unwilling to connect beyond surface level. I believed the lie that I would always be misunderstood — so why even try?
Something shifted. I returned to counseling, devoured books, and studied trauma as if it were my vocation. I did the kind of soul work that steals your breath and leaves you wondering if the tears will ever end.
Slowly, steadily, I began walking the path of healing.
And I know I’m not alone. I’ve spoken to so many of you who:
Feel isolated even in a crowded room
Keep a packed calendar yet still feel empty
Lie awake at night asking, “Is this all life has to offer?”
Hear me: there is more! More than the mundane existence we often settle for. We were created for passion and purpose.
We are not meant to go it alone. Each of us carries something worth sharing. Our scars can become maps for others. Our healing can be the light at the end of someone else’s tunnel.
If you need courage, borrow mine. May the bridges I burn light the way.
“May the bridges I burn light the way”
Today’s challenge:
I challenge you today: Refuse to settle for the mundane. Step into passion, step into purpose, and step into community. Share your scars as maps, your healing as light, and your courage as fuel for someone else’s journey. Together, we don’t just get through this thing called life — we rise, we shine, and we lead the way.