You’ve probably heard the story—when Hernán Cortés landed in the New World, he burned his ships. No retreat. No backup plan. No “we’ll see how this goes.” The only way forward… was forward.

It’s a little extreme—but also quite inspiring.

Because if we’re honest, most of us live with more than a few “ships” docked in the background.

Things we’d like to do.
Tasks that need accomplishing.
Issues that need addressing.

The spirit is willing… but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

We want to move. We know we ought to.

But we keep giving ourselves outs—keeping our options open, leaning on excuses, or quietly maintaining an exit strategy… just in case.

Sometimes we don’t need more intention—we need more commitment.
And sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do… is remove your escape route.

For several years now, I’ve thought about participating in Align Life’s “Move for Life” event—their biggest fundraiser of the year, with a one-mile walk and a timed 5K run. Every spring a nice flyer shows up and sits on my desk. I think, “That’s a great idea. The cause of life is so important, I really should do that.” And then… life happens. It slips my mind. There’s a scheduling conflict. Suddenly it’s too late to train.

Every. Single. Year.

So this year, I did something different.

I signed up—53 days in advance.

And not just the walk… the 5K (gulp!).

Which, if you’ve seen me run, is both ambitious and mildly concerning.

But I needed to burn the bridge.

Now I’ve got time to condition (we’ll see), time to fundraise, and no easy way out. I’ve committed to something that matters—and honestly, I need that kind of push.

Because the cause of life matters.

Many in the pro-life movement believed that the repeal of Roe v. Wade was the end game. And while I’m grateful for that decision, the deeper issue hasn’t gone away. In fact, since the Dobb’s decision that returned the abortion issue to the states, abortions have actually gone up.

Which tells us something important.

Abortion was never just a legal problem.
It’s a social issue.
It’s a spiritual issue.

And that’s exactly where Align Life steps in.

They meet people in the middle of life in all of its complexity—providing real help in real time for real women facing real crisis. From counseling to ultrasounds to baby supplies, they come alongside women and families, offering support and showing that choosing life isn’t just possible—it’s within reach.

And every act of care is paired with something even greater—the good news of Jesus. Not in a preachy, self-righteous way—but woven right into the help they provide. Truth and compassion, side by side.

At Bethany, we have a beautiful legacy of life. Twenty-seven families (and counting) have opened their homes through adoption and foster care. This is one more way we get to be part of that story.

So… I burned my bridge.

And I’d love for you to join me! Whether it’s the 1-mile walk or the 5K run, come be part of it. We’ll move, we’ll laugh, and probably regret it halfway through And we’ll be supporting something that truly makes a difference.

To register, scan the QR code or head to AlignLifeMinistries.org. And if you do sign up, contact me at steve@bethanygf.org—I’d love to connect with you, and maybe we can even set a fundraising goal together as a church.

But bigger than that—

Where in your life do you still have a ship or two docked?

Where do you want to move forward… but keep finding yourself stuck or worse, moving backwards?

Maybe it’s time to burn that bridge. Not recklessly—but prayerfully by faith, trusting that the God who calls you forward will also make a way.

Because sometimes the step you’ve been avoiding is the very thing God will use to move you forward. And sometimes the best way ahead… is to make sure there’s no easy way back.