ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Every once in a while, you sit down with someone who reminds you what resilience really looks like. That's exactly what happened when I had the privilege of talking with my former Ohio Northern University teammate, Mark Ouwerkerk.
Kerk's story is extraordinary. He served our country in the Navy, survived a helicopter crash near the Strait of Hormuz, has lived with lymphoma for more than a decade, underwent open-heart surgery to repair a life-threatening aortic aneurysm, and is once again courageously battling lymphoma.
Kerk is a devoted family man and closed out a successful business career a couple of years ago. Most importantly, he lives with an unwavering faith in God.
As we talked, five lessons continued to surface: stay calm under pressure, never underestimate the power of community, lead with bold humility, build a resilient faith, and remember that the little things really are the big things.
Kerk closed our conversation with a phrase Coach drilled into us countless times at Ohio Northern: "Keep your nose on the ball." Focus on the fundamentals. Stay faithful to what matters most. Trust that the small, consistent choices shape the person you're becoming.
Kerk's life reminds us that resilience isn't built in comfort; it's forged through adversity. Storms will come to all of us. The question isn't whether we'll face them, but who we'll become because of them.
Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
