An early morning reflection on faith, freedom, and the possibilities that await us.
This morning, October 13, 2026, I woke up at 3:33 a.m. No alarm. No appointment. Nowhere I needed to be. I simply felt compelled to get up. There was something stirring inside me, a mixture of excitement, anticipation, a little anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of possibility. As I made my way into my black box studio, where I often spend my early mornings reading, reflecting, and praying, I found myself thinking about something remarkable: finding freedom at 65, and discovering that perhaps the most meaningful chapter of my life is still ahead of me.
I’m 65 years old, and this morning I feel energized, empowered, and grateful. Over the last several days, I’ve been speaking with some of my closest friends, people who have known me for many years and have walked alongside me through different seasons of my life. I’ve been sharing something with them that I haven’t quite been able to put into words until now.
I’ve described this season of my life as feeling like an eagle that has spent years in a cage so small it couldn’t fully stretch its wings. And now, the cage is gone.
For the first time in a long time, I can stretch my wings. I haven’t soared yet. I’m simply discovering what it feels like to open them. And what an incredible feeling that is.
What excites me isn’t simply the freedom to create something of my own. It’s the opportunity to take everything I’ve experienced, everything I’ve learned, every mistake I’ve made, every lesson I’ve taught, and every lesson life has taught me, and turn it into something meaningful. Something I can give to others. A gift that begins at home, with my wife, my children, my grandson, my siblings, and my extended family, and expands outward into the community and, God willing, far beyond.
That desire to serve is at the heart of Living Strong Projects, where I continue exploring ways to help people and families grow stronger together.
This morning, I opened Our Daily Bread, and today’s devotional was based on Mark 1:29–39. In verse 35, we read about Jesus rising early in the morning, while it was still dark, and going to a solitary place to pray. There were people who needed Him. There was work to be done. Yet He made time to step away from the noise and spend time alone with His Father.
That spoke to me this morning because sometimes, in our eagerness to move forward, we forget the importance of being still. Of listening. Of praying. Of allowing ourselves the space to recognize what God may be preparing us for.
I find myself thinking about the words from Esther 4:14, “For such a time as this.” And I wonder, what have these 65 years been preparing me for?
The little boy growing up in the South Bronx. The young martial artist who discovered discipline and purpose through training. The performer who traveled the world. The husband, father, grandfather, teacher, student, writer, and community builder. The victories, disappointments, mistakes, losses, and lessons. All of it.
What if those experiences weren’t simply chapters of my past? What if they were also preparing me for the work that still lies ahead?
Finding Freedom at 65: Learning to Soar
I don’t know exactly what the next chapter will look like. I still have responsibilities, challenges, and uncertainties to navigate. Yet this morning, I feel something I haven’t felt quite like this before. Room to expand. Room to discover. Room to serve in ways I haven’t yet imagined.
And here’s something I’ve been thinking about. An eagle doesn’t soar by constantly flapping its wings, struggling to manufacture every bit of momentum. It opens its wings and learns to work with the currents that carry it. There’s a lesson in that for me. Maybe I don’t have to force everything. Maybe I need to keep preparing, keep learning, keep doing the work, and have faith that I’ll recognize the opportunities when they come.
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. This morning, I’m holding on to that promise.
At 65, I’m not thinking about winding down. I’m thinking about expanding. I’m thinking about becoming more skillful at being human. I’m thinking about the possibility of another twenty or thirty years of learning, loving, growing, creating, and serving. I’m grateful for every person who has been part of preparing me for this moment.
And perhaps that’s one of the most meaningful realizations I’ve had lately. I’m not starting over. I’m bringing everything I’ve learned with me. Every experience, every relationship, every success, and every difficult lesson has contributed to the human being I’ve become. And that human being is still growing.
Recently, I shared a reflection called Finding My Corner of the World, looking back at the places, people, and experiences that helped shape the human being I’ve become. This morning, I’m beginning to understand that finding my corner was never the end of the journey.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate throughout my life is that everyone has a story worth knowing. That belief is also at the heart of Living Strong Spotlights, where I celebrate the people, places, and organizations that help make our communities stronger.
Maybe you’re in a season of transition yourself. Maybe something familiar has come to an end, and you haven’t quite figured out what comes next. Maybe you’ve spent so much time meeting the expectations of others that you’ve forgotten what it feels like to fully stretch your own wings.
If that’s you, I want to encourage you. You don’t have to have everything figured out today. Sometimes the first step isn’t flying. Sometimes it’s simply recognizing that you have room to open your wings.
And perhaps before we soar, we need a little time to be still. To listen. To remember who we are, what we’ve learned, and who we’re still becoming.
The cage is gone. My wings are opening. And I’m looking forward to discovering where God will lead me.
Live Strong.
Peter Simon Liciaga
October 13, 2026
