Breakthrough. Revelation. Insight. To gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a thing or a situation. That’s what I experienced on October 24, 2018.

I had been sitting down on the couch preparing to watch a movie with my wife when suddenly, I experienced a revelation. It was like I had been in darkness and suddenly the light switch was turned on and I was able to see. At that moment in my life, I had been seeking the Lord for direction regarding my job. I was in the dark. I had no clear path of understanding in which direction I should go in. Should I stay or move on?

To help you better understand my revelation, I am taken back to a moment when a good friend and longtime customer I’ve been cutting for over 8 years sat down in my chair for a haircut. I hadn’t seen him in over 4 weeks, I felt like something was wrong with him so I asked him, “Hey man, what’s up? Everything alright? How’s work?” His response was that he was no longer working at that job. He said they had just fired him.

I felt sad but, believe it or not, happy for him as well. He had been at this job well over 3 years with no signs of moving on. It was in that moment that I expressed to him my joy and excitement for him. I know, how weird it is to smile and to be excited in a moment of loss, failure, disappointment and even anger. But I knew in that moment that this was his opportunity, his moment to begin his journey as he entered in what I call “greater opportunities.”

He got comfortable.I believe the revelation from the Lord was for me to come out of my comfort zone.I believe life is a journey and sometimes fear can stop us from coming out of our comfort zone.

What is a comfort zone? The dictionary says it is a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease without stress. Coming out of our comfort zone can be scary and uncomfortable.

Unchartered territory means unmapped or unexplored, the unknown. If I step out, will it work out? This brings a story to mind in the Bible where the Lord appeared to Abraham and asked him to leave his family, his homeland and go into a land that God had prepared for him.

In Genesis 12:1-5, it says: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth — his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran — and headed for the land of Canaan.”

In the movie Band of Brothers, a dramatized account of “Easy Company,”part of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division during World War II, over ten episodes of the series detail the company's exploits during the war. In one scene of the movie, we see men digging holes in the ground known as foxholes.

A foxhole is a type of defensive strategic position. It is a small hole in the ground used for cover and protection, usually for one or two personnel, constructed so that the occupants can effectively fire from it. The war and battle cannot be won in foxholes. We can’t advance against our opponents or overcome our circumstances and situations if we don't come out of our comfort zones. Your opponent may be fear, doubt and the “what if’s.”

You see, this insight, this breakthrough, revealed to me that I, too, had gotten too comfortable in my comfort zone. Steve Harvey said in one of his shows that if we stay in our comfort zone, we will fail. In order for us to be successful and to have all that God desires for us, we have to step out. I believed that greater opportunities awaited me (and await all of us) as long as we take the steps to come out of our comfort zone and trust God even in the unchartered territory. Let’s take hold of what God has for us and not allow our fear to stop us from coming out of our comfort zone.

That step of faith into the unknown led me to leave Waterbury, CT, in 2017 to work full-time at Fade Factory in Stratford, CT, where I built my local clientele over the span of fiver years. I honestly didn’t think I would ever want to open another barbershop, but over the course of the last few months, Stallion Barbershop became a dream and is now a reality – thanks to God and all of those who were a part of this process. I am humbled and so grateful to be here in a location where I’ve always dreamed of working. I can’t wait to see where Stallion will be in upcoming years and I hope you’ll be a part of that journey.