Lance's Corner

There are moments in life when everything you thought was permanent disappears.

For me, it wasn’t just one loss, it was a series of losses that seemed to come one after another.

My marriage ended, and I found myself facing the painful reality of starting over. As I was trying to make sense of that chapter of my life, I also experienced the heartbreaking loss of my grandmother. Not long after, I lost my little sister and then my mother. It felt like the foundation of my life had been pulled out from under me.

I reached a point where I knew I couldn’t stay where I was.

So I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.

I left Colorado for California.

I wasn’t chasing a dream. I wasn’t moving because I had a great job waiting for me or a comfortable place to live. I left because I needed a fresh start. I packed what little I had and headed west with almost no money and no real plan beyond hoping I could build a better life.

When I arrived in California, reality hit hard.

I became homeless.

I remember sitting alone wondering how my life had unraveled so quickly. I had no home, very little money, and no idea what tomorrow would bring. There were nights when all I could do was pray. I asked God to help me, to guide me, and to show me that my life still had a purpose. I didn’t always get immediate answers, but those prayers gave me the strength to keep going one day at a time.

For a time, my home was a park. Every day was about survival and finding a safe place to sleep, figuring out where my next meal would come from, and wondering what tomorrow would look like. It’s an experience that changes the way you see the world. You notice things that most people never think about, where you can charge a phone, where you can wash up, where you won’t be told to leave.

Homelessness isn’t just about not having a roof over your head. It’s about feeling invisible. It’s about carrying your entire life with you and wondering if anyone sees you as more than your circumstances.

There were days I wanted to give up.

But somewhere inside me, there was still a small voice that refused to quit. I believe that voice grew stronger every time I prayed. I kept asking God to open a door, to give me hope, and to help me find my way. Looking back now, I can see that even when I felt completely alone, I wasn’t walking through those struggles by myself.

I reminded myself that my situation didn’t define my future. Losing people I loved, losing my marriage, and losing my home didn’t mean I had to lose myself.

Little by little, I began taking small steps forward. Every opportunity mattered. Every kind word mattered. Every small victory reminded me that rebuilding a life doesn’t happen overnight, it happens one decision at a time.

Looking back now, I realize California didn’t save me.

I had to save myself with the help of God on my side.

California simply became the place where I chose not to give up.

Looking back now, I don’t believe I made it through those darkest days on my own. I believe God answered prayers that I couldn’t yet see being answered. Sometimes His answer wasn’t immediate, but it was always enough to keep me moving forward

If you’re reading this because you’re going through your own season of loss, I want you to know something, your current circumstances are not the final chapter of your story. You may feel like you’ve lost everything, but as long as you’re still here, there is still another page to write.

I don’t tell this story because I want sympathy.

I tell it because someone else might be sleeping in a park, sleeping in their car, grieving someone they love, or wondering if life will ever get better.

I’ve been there.

And if my journey proves anything, it’s that even when life strips away everything you thought you had, it cannot take away your ability to begin again.

This is only the beginning of my story.

In the days ahead, I’ll share what happened after I arrived in California and what it was like living in a park, the people who helped me along the way, and how I slowly began rebuilding my life.

If my story resonated with you, I’d love to hear yours. Leave a comment below and tell me about a time you had to start over.