This is the big question! The answer can change your life. This is a good day to ask that question

Today is a significant day it's the day after Mardi Gras and it is more than that. And so you will see some rather strange things or people doing what appears to be some strange things today. But they are very important things and you could use taking time to answer the big question of the day, because the answer could truly change your life and if you don't answer things might not go well for you!

I'm Stan the radio man and let me tell you the story!... Now let my robot tell you the rest of the story.

Do You Believe? The Question That Can Change Your Life

By Stan the Radio Man

Mardi Gras is the party before the penance, the indulgence before the introspection. Yesterday, the world celebrated with music, dance, and revelry. Today, Ash Wednesday, is the moment of reflection, the time to turn inward. This morning, I participated in the ritual—the marking of the cross on my forehead with ashes. Later tonight, at a friend’s request, I will do it again. And it begs the question: does this act really mean anything? Does it change anything? Or is it simply a tradition, a cultural marker, a habit repeated year after year?

That is the question. Do you believe?

A Story That Stuck With Me

Years ago, a man I once worked with—a skilled but flawed salesman—told me a story. He wasn’t a saint, but his story had power. He was in Dallas for an important business deal and had arrived early, staying through the weekend to save money on airfare. On Sunday morning, he decided to take a walk. As he strolled past a church, he heard the sounds of fervent worship spilling into the street. Then, out of nowhere, a man came rushing toward him with a bright, eager face and asked, "Brother, do you believe?"

Caught off guard, he hesitated. The question came again, louder, more insistent. "Brother, do you believe?"

A third time. "Brother, do you believe?"

Finally, realizing he needed an answer to end the encounter, he leaned forward and said, "Yes, I believe."

With that, the man beamed, shook his hand, and ran back up the church steps.

"I’m not of that religious persuasion," the salesman told me later, "but they got the question right."

And so I ask you—do you believe? And if so, what do you believe?

The Power of Belief

Belief shapes behavior. It informs how we act, how we treat others, and how we move through the world. And belief isn’t just about religion—it extends into business, relationships, and personal growth. In my work, I often teach "belief-based marketing"—the idea that successful business connections happen when values align. Before you sell anything, you must first ask: what do I believe, and do my customers believe the same?

But beyond business, the real question is personal. Do you believe in yourself? In your ability to change? To heal? To be useful?

The Mystery of Rituals

My friend Ted, a brilliant man, once gave me a small brown bottle. Inside was an oil he made himself, following an ancient recipe from the book of Exodus. It wasn’t just a bottle of oil—it was something sacred, something meant for healing. He told me to anoint my forehead, my doorway, even my microphone, as a way of inviting healing into my life.

Do I understand how it works? No. Can I prove that it does anything? No. But I believe something happens. And belief has power.

There are those who scoff at rituals, who dismiss them as superstition. But rituals matter. They remind us of deeper truths. They connect us to something greater than ourselves. They center us. Whether it’s the ashes on my forehead or the oil from Ted’s bottle, I believe that these small acts of faith have meaning.

The Great Mystery

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, sacrifice, and preparation. It is the prelude to the ultimate mystery of faith—that evil can be conquered, that death can be overcome, that suffering can be transformed into healing. It is the audacious belief that, in the midst of darkness, there is light.

And so I leave you with these questions:

• What do you believe in?
• How does that belief shape your behavior?
• Are your actions aligned with what you say you believe?
• Are you embracing the mystery, or are you ignoring the questions?

Rituals, traditions, and faith—these are not just relics of the past. They are tools for understanding, for connection, for transformation. So today, on this Ash Wednesday, I encourage you to pause, to reflect, and to ask yourself the question that can change everything.

Do you believe?

And if so—what are you going to do about it?