Last Wednesday, I quit my job of 20 years. I wasn’t really planning on it, though I’d been flirting with the idea of doing something else for a while now.
It’s funny how, when I look at my life, a pattern emerges.
In Germany, when I worked in advertising, the more my spiritual life—that is, my engagement in New Age spirituality—evolved, the less I wanted to work in this pseudo-glamour industry where truth was a rare commodity and everyone was obsessed with winning a trophy in Cannes… kinda like the Hollywood glitterati are obsessed with winning their Oscars and Golden Globes.
That was ages ago. This time around, I felt that the more religious I became—the more the “practicing” in “practicing Catholic” actually started to mean something—the less I wanted to work in the financial newsletter industry. It’s certainly not the worst business to work in, but I was beginning to dread the perpetual focus on money and the associated sentiments like greed, fear, and FOMO (fear of missing out on the “next hot stock”).
Thank you, Jesus, for looking at my unwillingness to change and gently saying, "Look, this is enough now. I'll make something happen to make it easier for you to let go and move on."
Working in this business was fun for a long time—until it wasn’t. But as a creature of habit, I found it extremely hard to extricate myself from it. Creative work + good income + lots of freedom = what’s not to like?
Well, something happened that convinced me it was finally time. I won’t go into details, but suffice it to say, it was the wakeup call I needed.
Thank you, Jesus, for looking at my unwillingness to change and gently saying, "Look, this is enough now. I'll make something happen to make it easier for you to let go and move on."
Speaking of patterns, here’s another crazy one:
I got my first major wakeup call on November 4, 2020, the day after Election Day. It was also the day after I lost my bid for Republican state representative and VatiGod had my full attention again. That’s when I found The Warning (or maybe it found me) and completely turned my life around.
I quit my job of 20 years the day after Election Day 2023—the day after Ohio, sadly, lost its battle against the new pro-abortion amendment to its constitution. I hope this move will bring a transformation just as far-reaching and profound as the last one.
It would be nice for a change to have a job that makes a real difference to someone, like non-medical caregiver to an elderly person. Much less money, but I feel it could be the next step in my discipleship: humility, simplicity, charity.
Interestingly, on Wednesday morning, the Mass readings were foreshadowing my imminent resignation… as was Father A.’s homily on “the price of discipleship.” It’s amazing, VatiGod, how you always reinforce our good choices (and try to dissuade us from the bad ones), if we only pay attention.
Right now, I’m having fun figuring out what I’m going to do next. I think I’m ready for a low-key, low-pressure job that doesn’t require my brain to constantly run at 100 mph.
It would be nice for a change to have a job that makes a real difference to someone, like non-medical caregiver to an elderly person. Much less money, but I feel it could be the next step in my discipleship: humility, simplicity, charity.
I might even take up some McJob for 3–4 days a week, just to pay the bills. Theoretically, with the right attitude and lots of grace and help from the Holy Spirit, you can change the world from wherever you are. I read about this middle-aged black lady working at McDonald’s who has the gift of reading hearts and prays for and with customers who she perceives to be troubled. Wow. This woman’s evangelization skills are through the roof.
One big goal is to focus on my own writing, which I’ve been often too tired for after a long day of writing and editing.
Some of my writing projects are:
Spending more time with this blog because I love it, and I love you guys, and if this brings even just one person closer to God, I’d consider it a success. I might activate the paid-subscriptions option and give this a serious go. I hope you’ll consider spending $5. If not, that’s okay too—most of the content will always be free.
Publishing Diary of a Stumbling Saint “da book.”
Publishing my middle-grade fantasy novel, which, I only now recognize, always wanted to be a Catholic children’s novel and therefore refused to bend to my attempts to secularize it.
I also plan on breaking out the right-brain tools I’ve stashed away and re-engage in painting and crafting, like I used to.
Oh, the possibilities. :)
Disclaimer: I’m aware that I’m still in the euphoria/honeymoon period right now. Once money gets tighter (if it does) and reality sets in, I fully expect to plunge into fear mode at some point.
That’s where the rubber really meets the road. That’s where I will have to prove to Jesus that I really trust him and love him and surrender myself to him, like I keep saying in the Surrender Novena that my friend Maura McKeegan made me aware of. It won’t be easy, but I’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way—so the lessons from my mistakes can be yours, and my triumphs as well.
And hopefully, if you are facing a similar situation as I did and just need the courage to take that last decisive step, my example may give you the necessary nudge.
May God bless you and shower you with graces. As Fr. Mike Schmitz likes to say, “Pray for me. I’ll pray for you.”
There are times when God calls us to step out; into a new experience, calling, etc. Running for a House seat in VT '22 was a 'biggie' for me also. Moving to the greater Boston area Oct 1, '23 post-flood was challenging, but, as a pro musician, I'm building a studio again, and it makes sense somehow. In the end, it's all about artful/caring exchange.
Consider yourself successful!