Justice is sometimes slow and hard-won, but it is always worth the fight.
Your story—what has happened to you—has the power to impact not just your life, but to ripple out into the lives of others. You hold the power to make the world a safer, more caring place for all of us. It’s a journey filled with twists, turns, and sometimes overwhelming obstacles. But it’s also a journey filled with purpose, with an undeniable belief that together we can make a difference.
Every day, we wake up to a world that feels a little more chaotic, a little more divided, and so often, a little more unjust. The headlines bombard us with stories of pain and suffering, of silenced voices, and trampled rights. As a trial lawyer, I confront these harsh realities head-on. I’ve been in this fight for awhile. Behind every case, every headline, there’s a story—a story of preventable tragedy, and a deep need for justice.
Yet, the path to justice is not linear. Justice is not instantaneous. The arc of justice doesn’t bend on its own; it bends because people decide to stand up and to speak out.
The path to justice is neither easy nor straightforward, and it can test our resolve. There are moments when progress seems stalled, when continuing forward feels overwhelming or even impossible. In these moments resilience isn’t just a word—it’s our lifeline.
The resilience I am talking about is not epitomized by some glorified bounce-back like the type you see in a sports movie. Rather, it is a steady quiet strength that comes from within—a toughness earned from picking yourself up before when no one else was watching. It comes from doing right by others, not for credit but simply because it is right thing to do. Within resilience there is a wisdom to recognize the importance of rest and reflection, and to know when to seek support from others. It’s a resolute determination to care for yourself and others, to stay true to your core values, and to keep pushing forward.
“Let us not grow weary of doing good,
Galatians 6:9
for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up.”
Adversity, while daunting, always makes room for opportunity. Who we are is defined by the decisions we make during the toughest times. Indeed, it is those decisions that so often determine the final outcome.
In moments of doubt, when the weight of the journey feels heavy, we must remember why we chose this path. We didn’t embark on this journey to take the easy road. I didn’t commit to this profession to sit on the sidelines and watch as others suffer. We are here because we believe—deeply—in the justice of our cause. We believe in the transformative power of the law to change lives, to right wrongs, and to bring about real, lasting change.
If you find yourself here, remember always that resilience does not thrive in isolation—it’s nurtured in community. We are stronger with a support system bound by shared values and a common purpose. And, thus, within resilience also lies a deep sense of gratitude—gratitude for those relationships that help you dig deep, stay grounded, and sustain you through the long nights, the tough breaks, and the inevitable setbacks. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” No man is an island unto himself.
Each step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to the world we all hope for. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly.” Micah 6:8. It’s not easy, and it’s not always rewarding in the immediate sense, but it’s necessary.
So, however this message has found its way to you, let it be your nudge to continue the marathon. The journey may be long, but the destination is worth every step.
