The Trampoline Bounce

After 33 years on this spinning rock, I’ve become convinced of one universal truth: life on Earth is like a trampoline bounce—the higher your goals, the lower you must submit yourself and overcome challenges. This is a principle I’ve seen play out not only in my own life but throughout history and in Scripture.

When we compare ourselves to others (and let’s be honest, we all do it sometimes), we often see people whose lives seem to coast along evenly. They have steady jobs, a picturesque family, and just enough ups and downs to keep things interesting—but nothing too extreme. It’s the kind of life we imagine when we think of the 1950s American dream: white picket fences, two kids, a golden retriever, and a sense of stability.

And you know what? I’ll admit, sometimes I feel a tinge of jealousy when I see that kind of life. Just last night, I was talking with a parent whose husband has worked for the same company for 14 years. My father-in-law was the same way, retiring after nearly 40 years with Hyundai. It’s easy to envy that kind of consistency.

But here’s the thing: I’ve realized I’m just not cut from that cloth. I wasn’t put on this earth to follow a traditional path. I’m here to bring a vision, to innovate, and to build. For a long time, I thought it was all about money. My earthly dad was focused on money, so I grew up with a warped relationship with it. But now I see that my drive has little to do with financial gain. In fact, I’ve walked away from five times more money than I’ve ever made. My motivation runs deeper—it’s rooted in who I am and, ultimately, in who I give credit to: God.

God has kept every promise from Scripture and every personal promise He’s made to me in our quiet times together. But the journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve had—and still have—high goals, though I’ve tempered them somewhat after understanding the spiritual truth of the trampoline bounce.

God has shown me that He is more than able and willing to give us the desires of our hearts, but to reach the highest peaks, the valleys we face will be proportional to the heights we want to achieve.

This truth has become more evident over the past eighteen months. I went from a well-paid, yet deeply unhappy corporate executive to starting my own business with the belief that doing the right thing and achieving success aren’t mutually exclusive. Along the way, I lost nearly every friend I thought I was close to. I had to cut ties with family members who not only refused to support me but actively tried to sabotage me. I even hit a point where my credit score plummeted to 300, and I was on the verge of losing my home and moving in with my in-laws.

But less than a year later, my business rebounded, and today, I am on the verge of some truly miraculous opportunities. The trampoline bounce is real. My journey has mirrored stories from Scripture like Job, Abraham, Joseph, and King David. And let’s not forget the greatest example of all: Jesus.

At the height of His ministry, Jesus delivered a sermon in Capernaum that challenged His followers to think spiritually, not physically. He told them to “eat His flesh and drink His blood,” knowing that many would misunderstand His message and walk away. And they did. Even though Jesus knew this would happen, it still pained Him. He turned to His twelve disciples and asked, “Will you leave me too?” He hit a low point in His ministry, but that wasn’t the end of the story.

Shortly after, Jesus entered Jerusalem, welcomed as a king. This pattern—reaching a low point only to rise to even greater heights—is the trampoline bounce in action. If Jesus experienced it, we should expect the same.

The key to success is overcoming the valleys. If you give up, like many of Jesus’ followers did after His challenging sermon, you disqualify yourself from the prize. But if you keep walking by faith, the valley will transform into a peak that only God can place you on.

As you rise, stay humble. Remember who sustained you through the valley, and be ready to lend a hand to others in their own low points. Encourage them, remind them that their bounce upward is coming, and that the struggle is worth it.

The trampoline bounce is not just a principle; it’s a way of life. Embrace the valleys, knowing that every low is preparing you for a higher peak. Keep your eyes on the goal, walk by faith, and never forget the One who carries you through it all.