Gratitude Ain’t Optional, Cuz
Last night, the Tom Golisano Field House didn’t feel like hardwood and bleachers—it felt like home. Athletes, coaches, and even a few who wandered in gathered shoulder to shoulder, ready for something more than practice or game day. The energy was alive, and I had the mic. Not just as the speaker, but as the emcee—a role that let me guide, connect, and carry the room in a whole new way.
We opened with my “hey cuz” bit—credit where it’s due to Mike Moss (aka Moss Talks), one of the coldest emcees out right now. If you know, you know.. The crowd shouted it back, laughter spilling across the field house, energy bouncing like a live wire. To ride that wave, we jumped straight into a game of knockout. The line stretched so long we had to cut the game short—it was wild. That moment set the tone: this wasn’t going to be a sit-back-and-watch kind of night. Everyone was in it together.
My message circled around a single word: gratitude. Not the casual “thanks” we throw around, but the kind that changes how you see your life. I told the story of a homeless woman who once asked me for everything—shoes, food, money, a job. Her prayers and mine? Worlds apart. And that truth landed hard. Gratitude isn’t just good practice. It’s survival. It’s the key to joy.
There was a moment when even I had to stop. My heart got heavy mid-sentence, and I breathed out: “Hold on, that was heavy.” And the room froze with me. No buzz of distraction, no nervous laughter—just a silence that felt holy. It was one of those moments you don’t forget, because you know God was in it.
And I wasn’t alone in leading. Joe Drost opened scripture and gave a powerful reflection. Leaders like Elena, Jon Effertz, and Jay White took the message deeper in small groups. Coach Sherm captured the night in photos that will say more than words ever could, and Batman (JLU Productions) made sure the behind-the-scenes story lives on. It wasn’t one person—it was family.
By the end, the takeaway was undeniable: gratitude = appreciation. When you count your blessings, you unlock a joy that the world can’t manufacture or take away.
For me, this night was ministry in its purest form. Not just speaking from a stage, but emceeing—serving, connecting, and creating space for others to lead. That’s where fulfillment lives.
This Campus Huddle wasn’t just another event. It was a reminder that when athletes come together with open hearts, God shows up. And last night, He did.