Carmen Armbrister Johnson

I had a moment today at the Chapman senior center that really stayed with me and I want to share it with you. I was invited to speak during their lunch gathering. Nothing fancy. Just a chance to connect, share a message, and hopefully brighten the room a bit. But something unexpected happened. As I was speaking, I spotted someone I hadn’t seen in many years. Nate Sparks, a retired Kansas State Trooper. Nate retired early in my career, but I remember him well. He was one of the best. Known for his skill, especially at the firing range. He helped train so many across the Kansas Highway Patrol and even beyond. He was calm, steady, knowledgeable, and people listened when he spoke. His work left a mark. In fact, some of the things he taught are still talked about and reinforced today. His impact back then is still felt in small ways even now. As I continued to speak, I saw something change in him. His eyes lit up. His posture shifted. His face showed a spark of recognition and connection. It was like the words I was sharing reached into a part of his past that still lives within him. And then I saw something else. Nate is older now. He moves slower. His voice is softer. His once razor-sharp mind is now a little clouded by time. It was beautiful to see him. And it was hard… 😔 We all hope to grow old. That’s the blessing. But aging quietly takes pieces of us. Our energy. Our clarity. Our strength. And it reminded me again how important it is to use the time we have now to do something with meaning while we still can. You don’t have to change the whole world. Just change your corner of it. Help someone. Be kind. Speak up. Live with purpose. Because one day, your energy will fade. And I hope when that day comes, you can look back and know you used your time well. The ripples we create in life can carry far and wide over many years. We may not always see how far they reach, but they keep going. Say nothing. Do nothing. And you become nothing. Say something. Do something. And you become something. Time is not endless. Make it count. Make it beautiful. Make it yours. Thank you Nate, for your years of service, and for reminding me today what it means to live a life of purpose.

Go call your dad, Jac!