Reader ,

I'm grateful for 2025

I've been thinking about this past year with an honest awareness that every year holds both its beautiful stretches and its harder terrain. 2025 was no exception. It asked a lot of me. It also gave me more than I expected.

As I look back, what rises to the surface isn’t the checklist of projects completed or goals met, but the moments that surprised me with joy, clarity, or momentum. The moments that reminded me I’m growing, even when I wasn’t tracking it in real time.

Looking back, there are a few memories that continue to stand out in my mind, and I wanted to bring you into those as I reflect on the year.

Two Standout Moments: Living in the Double Win

Traveling is a huge piece of my Double Win. This year I shared some incredible moments with some incredible people.

1. My wife Jan and I spent Easter at a Traditional Bedouin Shepherd Camp in Jordan. Remote doesn't quite capture it; we were surrounded by endless desert and a simplicity that stripped away everything unnecessary. Being that far from familiar ground reorients you.
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2. In June, we hosted a retreat in Beaver Creek, CO for two cohorts of priests from our Leadership Accelerator Program. Many had spent their entire lives in the Midwest; flat horizons, familiar landscapes. We took them halfway up the mountain for lunch. Ten thousand feet. The view stretched for miles.
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   I watched their faces as they took it in. Pure, unguarded wonder. Facilitating and witnessing this joy is a special memory I now hold closely.
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Two Unique Experiences: Being In Great Company

1. I hired an AI consultant. That might not sound like a milestone, but for me it opened a door I didn't know existed. He introduced me to "expertise extraction"; capturing and scaling what I know in ways I couldn't before.
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   AI went from tentative experiments to a tool I now use almost daily. He's one of those "abundance of counselors" who showed up exactly when I needed him. It's changed how I think about my work and how I serve clients.
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2. This November, I attended the Clergy Laity Event in Illinois for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. I presented graduate certificates to Cohorts 1 and 2 of our Leadership Accelerator program and participated on a panel with others impacting the Greek Orthodox Church.
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   It was an honor. A pleasure. And evidence that the work we've been doing with these leaders is bearing fruit. Watching them complete this journey and step into greater capacity felt like watching seeds we planted finally break through the soil.

Thank you.

There's no way I could fit all the memories and gratitude from 2025 in one email. Thank you for being here. Whether you're a current or former client, a colleague, a friend, or someone who stumbled upon Edens View, I'm thankful for our conversations and connection. I pray you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.