Life Under Construction

The story of a big life change

Seven years — is that a long time? A drop in the bucket? Both? For me, at the moment, both.

Seven years ago, the Lord moved me from Ann Arbor, Michigan down to Fort Wayne, Indiana to begin work as an editor for OSV. It was so clearly a “God thing” — the perfect fit, the timing, the opportunity. And for the last seven years, I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities, wonderful mentors and colleagues, and the chance to work on about 70 incredible books (and be involved with many others!) I can’t even begin to parse out all the ways I’ve grown as a human and as an editor, or number the author friends I’ve made.

Most days, I thought I’d stay forever. Occasionally, I joked about returning to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist — my previous Ann Arbor employer — to become their editor as they moved into publishing books, curriculum, and other resources.

Five years ago, I moved back to Michigan after marrying my husband, and we landed not too far from the DSMME convent and offices. I’d pop in now and then to visit the Sisters and former colleagues. I carried on at OSV, doing exactly what the Lord wanted me to do and enjoying (almost) every minute of it. But, truth be told, every now and then the thought would pop up. “I wonder if the Sisters will need an editor at some point?” I never really thought twice about it, though, figuring the Lord would move me around if he needed to, but intending to stay at OSV for the foreseeable future.

But God doesn’t like to work with the foreseeable, does He?

Looking back over the last year or two, I can see where He was demolishing, renovating, reorganizing areas of my life. I went through periods of hurt and healing, failure and growth, and finally landed (somewhat painfully) in a place where He could open me to the possibility of a new adventure. And that was right when the Sisters — more specifically, Openlight Media — posted a new position on CatholicJobs.com.

The long and the short of it is, I’m moving from one dream job to another, leaving OSV to take a new role with Openlight Media as Director of Content and Communications.

I’m excited! This is a wonderful opportunity in many ways. But more than excitement, I have a deep sense of peace knowing that this change is precisely what the Lord wants from me right now. How it will all play out, I have no idea! It will be good, of that I have no doubt, but I’m definitely sad to leave my colleagues and the good work of OSV.

To repeat what I shared in an OSV editorial newsletter this week:

But grief is an invitation to gratitude. We don't mourn evil, so when we feel the draw to mourn, it's because there has been something good and worthwhile, a blessing that maybe we only recognize in the ending of it. If you've ever done a rubbing of tree bark or a gravestone, you know what it's like to see the imprint of what lies beneath coming clear on the surface, the essence of the thing transferred into an entirely different medium. Grief feels a bit like that constant rubbing which slowly leaves an imprint on the soul so that we can see clearly what it is we should be grateful for. Perhaps grief is really just a profound and unexpected form of joy, if we do it right.

Please pray for me as I embark on this new adventure! And as I frantically try to finish Love in the Glass City for my editor…

In Christ,

Rebecca