Dear Prudence Consulting

One of my favorite Irish blessings begins with the words:

“May the road rise up to meet you.”

As someone who spends much of my time connecting people, supporting local organizations, and helping tell the stories of businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders, that sentiment feels especially meaningful.

In many ways, public relations and community engagement are about walking alongside others on their journey by opening doors, building relationships, and helping people move forward with purpose.

May the road rise up to meet you today, may the wind be always at your back, and may a little Irish luck find its way into your day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.
~ Walt Disney

Bubbles are like ideas.
They start small.
They catch the light.
They float.
And the right one? It captures attention before it gently lands.

That’s the heart of storytelling.
Connection, imagination, and dreams released into the world with intention.

Sometimes I think public relations is a little like bubbles.
You create something meaningful, release it into the world, and trust it will rise, catch the light, and reach the right people.

Connection never goes out of style.
Vision never gets old.
And the right story can live far beyond the moment it’s shared.

I recently came across a social experiment that quietly speaks volumes about communication.

Two payphones were connected. One in California and one in Texas. When someone picked up on one end, it rang on the other. No script. No positioning. No agenda. Just two strangers on the line.

What stood out to me was not the novelty of the experiment, but the outcome. The people who chose to answer did not default to assumptions. They listened. They asked questions. They found points of connection simply by being present in the conversation. In many cases, genuine connections were made simply because someone chose to pick up.

This is public relations at its core.

Effective PR is not about broadcasting messages. It is about creating space for dialogue, building trust through listening, and recognizing the human being on the other end.

Whether across state lines or across stakeholder groups, connection begins when someone is willing to engage.

It made me reflect.

If you heard a random payphone ringing, would you pick it up?
And if you did, would you stay and carry on a conversation?

Because sometimes the most meaningful connections begin with a simple decision to answer.

A 'social experiment' lets people from Texas and San Francisco randomly connect on a payphone "People don't want to be seen as stereotypes. People look to connect on human stuff."

What a treat to wrap up Valentine’s Day by attending a special pre-release screening of I Can Only Imagine 2.

We absolutely loved the first film, which told the powerful true story behind Bart Millard and his band, MercyMe Music's iconic song, and explored themes of forgiveness, redemption, and faith that resonated far beyond the Christian community. It was heartfelt, raw, and deeply moving, and one of those stories that stays with you long after the credits roll.

This second film was just as impactful, if not more so, as the story of Bart Millard is expanded even further and songwriter/worship leader Tim Timmons is introduced into the narrative. We truly loved this sequel (and if truth be told, may like it even more than the first one). Based on a true story, it is faith based, emotionally rich, and absolutely hits all the feels.

Early in the film, the story thoughtfully acknowledges Bart and his son, Sam (stage name Sam Wesley) and their journey with Sam’s Type 1 diabetes. That moment quietly grounds the story in real life vulnerability and perseverance.

Seeing this story unfold was particularly meaningful knowing my very talented friend, director, writer, and composer, Brent McCorkle, played a major integral role in bringing this project to life.

Brent has a rare gift for telling stories that are honest, layered, and rooted in faith. His previous work includes serving as a director on Jesus Revolution, contributing as a screenwriter to the original I Can Only Imagine, and once again stepping into the roles of screenwriter and director for this new film. His storytelling reflects authenticity, compassion, and deep respect for the human journey, and that is evident throughout this film.

Another standout was the casting. Every actor fully captured my attention and brought sincerity and emotional depth to their role, making the story feel personal and believable from start to finish.

One of the most powerful and quietly moving elements of the film is a simple daily practice shared by Tim Timmons. It involves marking his wrist each day as a reminder of what it means to wake up and keep going. That small gesture comes to represent holding gratitude and grief in the same space, acknowledging both without letting either define the whole story.

The evening concluded with a beautiful moment as the audience was invited to remain in the theater and sing along to It Is Well With My Soul, performed on screen by MercyMe along with Bart’s son Sam. It was worshipful, heartfelt, and deeply unifying, bringing the experience full circle in a way that felt both intimate and sacred.

This film is a beautiful continuation of a story rooted in faith, perseverance, and purpose, and we cannot wait for audiences everywhere to experience it when it releases on Friday, February 20th.

*** Commentary by Dear Prudence Consulting Public Relations and Community Engagement Company ***

"I have a dream..." ~ from Martin Luther King's 17 minute public speech at March on Washington, August 28, 1963.