The Work of Moving Forward Together: From Change and Grief to Connection, Alignment, and Mission

“They are not problems to be fixed, but mysteries to be honored and revered.” This quote about people continues to resound in my head from Eugene Peterson’s The Pastor: A Memoir. Throughout my years coaching leaders and supporting organizations through change, I have encountered so many people who wanted me to “come in and fix … Continue reading The Work of Moving Forward Together: From Change and Grief to Connection, Alignment, and Mission →

Together We Flourish

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Church as we experience our Journey in Faith together in the Archdiocese Dubuque, and as I step more fully into my role as Director of Leadership Formation. Not the Church as a building. Not the Church as an institution. Not even the Church as the collection of … Continue reading Together We Flourish →

Whose Image Am I Reflecting?

"It feels like I have shed the things that have allowed me to become more fully who I am." This is what I shared with my coach recently as we reflected on the many transitions of the past year. I transitioned the business I founded to my partner. I stepped into an opportunity that feels … Continue reading Whose Image Am I Reflecting? →

The Freedom of Not Knowing

Here I am, finding my feet again. Sometimes I wonder: Is it me that no longer fits in the world I've created? Or has the world changed so much that I no longer feel at home in it? Either way, I've found myself struggling to know where I fit or where I belong. This isn't … Continue reading The Freedom of Not Knowing →

There Is Only We

Their smiles. The dancing. The sweaty, dirt-covered high fives. Praying together. The hugs. This is what I will remember most from our recent trip to the Dominican Republic to visit our twin parish. We called it a mission trip, but those words just don't feel quite right.Mission implies something to accomplish. What we experienced was … Continue reading There Is Only We →

And She’s Off to the Next Adventure: A Letter To Our Dear Elisabeth

Elisabeth, We are blessed to have had you as part of our family these past few months. It wasn't always easy or comfortable, but that's how we know it was deep, meaningful, and true. It was love...it is love. You said it best in the note you left us: "Being deeply loved by someone gives … Continue reading And She’s Off to the Next Adventure: A Letter To Our Dear Elisabeth →

Encountering the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I stared at the faces of those who died. I listened to stories about who they were and the lives they lived from those who loved them most. I watched survivors share their experiences and the ways they served in the aftermath — the courage, the strength, the ongoing battles they still carry. It was … Continue reading Encountering the Sacred Heart of Jesus →

What Happens When God Changes Your Plans: What a career pivot taught me about identity, calling, and trusting God with the next chapter

For much of my life, I believed clarity would come through effort. Work harder. Think longer. Plan better. Stay faithful. Keep moving. But over the past year, I’ve begun learning something different. Some of the most important shifts in our lives do not arrive with certainty. They arrive as a quiet stirring. An invitation. A … Continue reading What Happens When God Changes Your Plans: What a career pivot taught me about identity, calling, and trusting God with the next chapter →

Staying Alive in This Life

A multi-faceted identity. An identity rooted in something beyond what changes or falls apart. This is something great leaders and the best of humanity have in common. When our identity is this expansive, we have the opportunity to stay rooted in times of chaos, and the strength and resources to stay grounded in our values … Continue reading Staying Alive in This Life →

Holy Love

Loving You has been the most confusing, frustrating, exhilarating, and satisfying thing I've done. I want Your love with all that I am, and yet I fight against receiving it. The world says, "You don't deserve it." My ego says, "You have not done enough." Yet You tell me over and over, "I love you … Continue reading Holy Love →