A new season of life

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today was my last official day of work at Taylor University, an end of a season of almost twenty-five years. A season that saw many amazing and challenging events in our lives, including Angie’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, the birth of our twin daughters, hosting ICCM and attending ICCM Europe, consulting with mission organizations around the world, many amazing family vacations and themed staycations, three house moves including building a home, completion of Master’s Degrees for both Angie and me, high school graduation for our daughters, many presentations at business/academic/and missions conferences, weddings and births among many friends and family, the deaths of many friends and family, board memberships, teaching courses as an adjunct at Taylor, winning an ENnie award for my freelance game editing, my students winning an ENnie award for their published ttrpg adventure, my back injury and surgery, remodeling our house to make it even more accessible, a global pandemic, college graduation for our daughters, a daughter’s marriage proposal, the start of graduate school for one daughter, and accepting a first teaching job by the other, and so many other highlights I have overlooked. It has been a career in Information Technology at Taylor that started as a help desk technician and progressed to a director with many growing steps along the way. I have been blessed to work with amazing people and teach some incredible students for over two decades at Taylor. The friendships I have built will continue even as the work relationships come to a close.

A new season begins next week with SIL International, where I am taking on the role of Director of Bible Translation Software. For my family and friends, and long term followers, you are aware of my passion for missions technology. You are also aware of my caregiving for Angie. To get really nerdy on you, this new season in my life with SIL filled in the perfect center of a Venn diagram of Passion for Missions Technology, Leadership Experience, and Caregiving. In my new role, I will be leading a team of talented software developers who are on the forefront of creating and maintaining Language Translation technology, while working from home and providing greater caregiving for my wife, Angie. The transition has begun. I am excited about the future in this new role, while admittedly a little nervous about the change. Almost twenty-five years at Taylor University is a lot of inertia and comfort to overcome. I have had to say a lot of goodbyes this past week, clean out my office, and prepare myself to learn all new things and to get to know all new people. John Kennedy stated it well and is the challenge I have given myself.

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

John F. Kennedy

Thanks to everyone who has been on this season’s journey with me. I appreciate you all so much. Now let’s head to this new season together.