I have a longer piece to write at some point, about how St. Michael has been a spiritual home for me and my family—Ground Zero for my thorough reversion to the Catholic faith and our conversion to an authentically Catholic understanding of marriage and sexuality, not to mention the garden in which my children grew strong in faith and began to first bear fruit for the Kingdom.

I could write a book. Maybe I should someday. But today, it’s just a column on what’s next for me and my family.

You may have heard that Jodi, Lily, and I plan to move to North Dakota to be closer to our older children and grandchildren once Lily finishes 8^th grade next summer.   You may have seen the recent job posting for a communications manager for our parish. The fuller story is that, in preparation for a move a year from now, I contacted the University of Mary in Bismarck, hoping that I might be able to freelance for them. Instead, they have hired me as a full-time writer/editor in their Creative Services department, beginning in August.

This is a great opportunity in many ways, but primarily because it provides a level of financial security I had not expected in the context of this move. For the past six years I have been working (by choice) as a freelancer for our parish and a few other Catholic clients. The choice to work as a contractor provided flexibility so that I could travel frequently to Michigan during my dad’s decline and passing, enabled me to do other creative work I might not have had the opportunity pursue, and taught me more about accounting, taxes, and running a small business than I ever expected to know.

I am blessed and grateful.

I am also comfortable. It would be easy to stay here, where I know what I’m doing, working for a parish I love, confessing to the same priest I have for years, attending Mass every Sunday, and reading the Creation story each year at the Easter Vigil.

But I’m too comfortable. It’s easy to work from home on a flexible schedule and be content. We’re not made for coasting, and I know it. It’s time for whatever the Lord has next.

We will be around until next spring at least, and I hope to visit with many of you and share more about our plans and dreams. But whether we speak in person in the coming months or not, I hope all of you know how grateful I am to have been a part of this community as a parishioner and a professional.

Be assured of our prayers. We have something special here at St. Michael. Don’t take it for granted, and don’t get too comfortable.