How often do we find ourselves waiting for a sign from God while standing still?
We replay every possibility, question every decision, and convince ourselves that if we make the wrong choice, somehow we'll miss God's plan for our lives. But what if all that second-guessing is exactly what keeps us from the life God is inviting us to live? As Father Dan Stump begins his ministry as Associate Pastor at St. Thomas More, he offers a simple but powerful reminder: inaction is rarely where God calls us.
He recalls advice from Father Andrew Pinsent, a priest, physicist, and professor who once gave a homily to young men discerning the priesthood. His guidance was remarkably straightforward:
Do. Do Not. Ask.
If you believe God is calling you, do. If you've discerned He is not, do not. If you're unsure, ask. Notice what's missing? Standing still. "So often we get caught up in the anxiety of wondering what God wants us to do," Father Stump says. "We keep second-guessing ourselves when God has already begun placing that vocation, that desire, or that invitation on our hearts."
Whether it's volunteering in a ministry, serving your parish, reaching out to someone in need, or taking the next step in your faith, that persistent tug on your heart is worth paying attention to. God isn't trying to hide His will from us. He desires that we know Him, trust Him, and follow where He leads.
For Father Stump, answering that call has led him to one of the greatest joys of the priesthood: celebrating the Eucharist. "The graces gained for the individual for whom a Mass is offered are powerful and abundant," he shares. "As I approached ordination, I became especially drawn to this aspect of the priesthood. I look forward to offering Mass whenever I can, especially for forgotten souls, living and deceased."
As he begins this new chapter at St. Thomas More, Father Stump is equally excited to build relationships throughout the parish and school. One tradition he hopes to continue is visiting classrooms each month, where students would eagerly greet him with their favorite game: "Father, would you rather...?"
He also looks forward to gathering each Sunday around the altar, where the entire parish family becomes one. "We are not two separate communities," he says. "We are both school and parish integrated into one community, and nowhere is that more visible than at Sunday Mass." In a world that often tells us to wait until we're absolutely certain, Father Stump offers a different invitation. Don't let fear disguise itself as discernment. If God is stirring something in your heart, don't spend your life wondering.
Do. Do not. Or ask. Just don't stay still.
