I was born blind, and with other disabilities as well.

Growing up, the school system assumed that I was incapable of learning enough to become a fully functioning adult. This ultimately led to a situation where I actually missed out on grades 7-11 entirely. Thus the idea that I would end up with multiple advanced degrees was inconceivable to most of the adults in my life.

I have also experienced other trials such as nearly losing custody of my first child due to disability discrimination. This occurred while we were helping her through treatment for a pediatric cancer, no less. She turned out ok, but those memories catalyzed me to strive for systemic change.

As someone who lives with chronic pain and mental health struggles, I have found the beauty in serving as a means for survival. I know what it means to fight for opportunities and defy expectations on the path to becoming who we are meant to be. Moreover, I know what it means to sooth our own pain by helping someone in need reclaim the hope that they deserve.

I feel blessed for having the chance to help people step into their brilliance, and facilitate changes within organizations that unleash the best in their people. In my mind, these are two sides of the same coin.

• Daniel Hodges's Website

Welcome to 12-Minute Converse with Jesus Believers.

God chose first to have a conversation with us, His creation.

Our prayer is that this listening space brings growth and transforms your life forever.

Praise God for you, Daniel.

It's a great pleasure to connect with you.

What part of the world are you in today?

I am in U.S. and Texas.

What part of Texas are you in?

East Texas, a couple hours east of Dallas.

Well, I'm intrigued by your journey.

I've seen that part of who you are is an individual who completely decides that you're not going to be held down by a disability.

If that is accurate, where did that decision come from?

You know, there was part of me who, despite being told I would never be able to have a job or a family or whatever, there was part of me that just believed that there was something in there that was destined for more.

And when I was in my late teens, I started to come across the right kinds of people who could help me learn techniques and raise my expectations.

And, you know, it's been a journey where every time I think I've reset my expectations accordingly, somebody else will be put in my path to raise it up another level and say, okay, you came this far.

Here's the next step.

Let's go.

And I've come to a point in my life now where instead of being surprised by that, I'm actually looking for that next level, that next person, that next opportunity.

And I think that's the glorious part about this is knowing that those are always coming and then being able to serve in that role for other people.

That's a play on words right there.

When you said looking for what does looking even, what is that like for you?

It's seeking out.

It is being open for different opportunities as they come, even when they come in unexpected packages.

You know, what is this person who just showed up in my life going to teach me?

What is this door that just opened going to, you know, going to lead to?

Or what is that door that just closed?

What did it protect me from?

And where do I go next?

When you're looking at someone, you're not seeing them.

Is it a feeling that you're playing with?

Is it a presence?

You know, it is more of a presence and it's being able to try to absorb, okay, what are they communicating?

You know, what can I pick up from their verbal cues?

What can I pick up from, you know, any kind of aura they may have?

And I had enough eyesight, especially when I was younger, to pick up on blurs.

But, you know, you can't really learn much from a blur.

So it's been about like, okay, you know, I have a little bit of eyesight enough, but not relying on it.

What can I use my other senses to pick up?

Do you think that is actually to your advantage at this point?

I think it is if I make it be.

I don't think it is a natural advantage necessarily, but I think we have the ability to take what is placed before us and decide, will it serve us or will it harm us?

That's powerful right there.

How did you come to meet Jesus?

I was born in a preacher's family, so I had that advantage as it were.

But I have seen my relationship with him evolve over the years where I've had to choose him when life got tough.

You know, when my dad passed away when I was 23 due to him dealing with a serious illness for several years, I had to decide how am I going to grieve this?

When I've faced injustice, when I've dealt with two kids having cancer and coming through that, I've had to ask, okay, how do I lean on my faith and how do I use this as an opportunity to expand my faith and to draw closer to the man he wants me to be?

What is the work that you're pursuing right now?

I know there are many things that you've taken under your hat here.

I run a non-profit that I felt called The Create that works to erase the stigma surrounding disability and chronic illness.

We provide community education and training and connections to resources and such.

And I feel like deeper than that, the work I'm pursuing is meant to bring hope.

It's meant to draw people together.

It's meant to replace animus with peace.

And that's the work that I do.

It's not just about helping people with disabilities thrive.

It's about saying, if we can learn to see one another in a more appropriate way, we can accomplish so much.

Tell me about your team that you've been able to build as a result of the way you seek relationships, please.

Absolutely.

So my team is very culturally, religiously, politically diverse.

And we did that on purpose.

I didn't want to have people who just believe and think like I do because then my reach would be limited.

So we model it.

We say, okay, whether you're a Christian or a Jew or an atheist or whatever, you don't even know what you are, there's a home for you bringing people together and working together, whether you're politically liberal or politically conservative.

Likewise, come help us change the world, be part of the solution.

And so I have a team that mirrors those values.

What is on the horizon for you?

I hope getting this organization and getting this message to a point where people have an opportunity to say, okay, I'm going to see if this resonates with me.

I'm going to be part of this groundswell, and we're going to redefine what it means to talk about accessibility and to be peacemakers in the public square.

I hope I'm near the front or at the front of that movement.

That's what I hope is on the horizon.

What is family life like right now?

So I have three teenage kids.

I get to spend a lot of time with them.

I'm currently between permanent addresses.

So that is what it is.

And I'm making peace with somebody who has been divorced for the last nine years and figuring out, okay, is a second marriage in the cards?

If so, great.

If not, how do I make the best impact I can?

For the person who is listening who share a similar challenge where even if it's not being able to see, but simply being thought of as someone who doesn't have the capacity or the advantages of another human being, what's advice you'd give to them to really switch their perspective?

I think the first thing is to figure out where your skills and talents lie.

And regardless of what anyone told you, having a disability does not mean you don't have skills and talents.

It just doesn't.

So figure out where those skills and talents are, surround yourself with people who help you maximize them.

Even if you have to use some alternative techniques, that's okay.

That's part of what we call diversity of thought.

And just take one step today to step into your genius.

Is there a person when I'm asking this question that comes to mind as an example of someone who experienced the services that you guys offer and it changed their lives forever?

You know, it is, but it's not always the people you think.

Have we helped people with disabilities find what they need and feel heard?

Yes, we have on multiple occasions.

But the other people I think about are the people on the team or the people that we work with on a collegial standpoint, some of whom didn't even have disability on their radar.

And they work with us, they learn a new way of thinking about accessibility and inclusion, and they go out and become some of our strongest advocates.

I love those stories because it shows that you can call people into the movement, meet them where they are, and they can leave transformed and really be willing to take the rest of the journey with you.

Given the natural sphere of what we're experiencing from afar, from the US, do you have any concerns or fears or even excitement that reign right now in your life?

It's a tough climate.

It's a tough climate because people are being taught right now that hating one another is better than listening to one another.

And that is so wrong and so destructive.

And you think about that every time that you step into the public square and say, I'm here to offer something.

But you can't stop.

There is no world in which taking the safe route or hiding my light under a bushel or any of our lights under a bushel is the right call.

So you step in and you say, agree with me, disagree with me, whatever the case may be.

I'm here to offer what I can.

I'm here to reach you, I can.

And I'm here to help how I can.

And you just try to be the best force of hope you can.

Daniel, it's been an honor speaking with you.

However, I'd like you to leave a message in the bottle for yourself.

Listening to this five years from today, what's the message you'd leave for future you?

Keep pushing.

In closing, is there anything else you'd like to share with our amazing audience?

Only thing I can share is whether you're living the life or whether you're brand new to this conversation, small steps can make a difference.

Find small, simple ways to get involved.

Be part of the solution.

Keep hoping because there are great things in the future.

Daniel, thank you for being on what is inspired by 12-Minute Convoys.