Then one early morning I awoke at 3am with a driving thought that I now know was planted in my head by something much bigger than me. By 4am I had sent an inquiry to an admissions officer at a local private university, and by 11am I was enrolled in a degree completion program.

The Internet economy had just crashed. I had a couple of bucks in the bank and plenty of time on my hands so I embarked on what became a life changing journey. What was supposed to be part-time school and an active search for a new job became five years of full-time educational pursuits.

First the bachelor’s degree, some time in law school, a master’s degree and three certificate programs later I was done. The career took a while to re-start as I was truly beginning again at the age of 41. Thankfully, within a few years I was employed and in a position that I could have only dreamed of just a few short years earlier.

Now… God fills my soul. And I see that my second step was simply a springboard to many more unforeseen steps. Life is indeed good. And luckily for me, as I look back I clearly see that my Second Half Bet seems to have been fixed. And for that I am eternally grateful.