“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” (Walt Disney)

In only two rapid weeks I will be a resident of a state I know nothing about, work with complete strangers, have no friends who live within 100 miles of me, and depend on my dog for conversation.

Unfortunately, she hasn’t learned to talk back. At least not yet.

For two years I have worked for a true odd couple—two reformed agnostics who preach going green to conservative Christians. Living a nearly Amish lifestyle, they have turned commercial Christianity on its head. Some people like it, some people don’t.

My job has been to use every tool in the shed to hammer my bosses’ mission into a skeptical audience, weld together relationships with unlikely allies, and tighten bolts of a startup organization with a wrench I don’t know how to use most of the time.

(Pardon the literal comparisons.)

The point is: My bosses (who are extremely kind, wonderful people) have walked entirely in faith through each open door, and cool stuff has happened for us.

I have helped launch three nationally published books and an internationally distributed film series and simulcast. I have shipped poor Matthew Sleeth all over the country to speak in front of really large and sometimes really small audiences. I have sent and received tens of thousands of e-mails. And I have worn out my friends and family with good news, bad news, joys, frustrations, and everything in between.

Can I please take a vacation for a few years? Is anyone with me?

Over these last few months I have sensed a longing for something new. Just in time, an opportunity to work for a new organization, the Indiana Dental Association, presented itself to me in the last several weeks. The executive director invited me for an interview in Indianapolis and, with excitement, I chose to explore this possibility.

A week or so later, there I was in Indianapolis, white-knuckling my steering wheel in the direction of the Indiana Dental Association, depending entirely upon an Australian man-voice otherwise known as Garmin).

I parked in the parking lot and took a really deep breath. I then pulled up the “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation” YouTube video on my iPhone so I could pump myself up to believe I might actually have a chance at getting this job. I’m being serious.

[Watch “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation” video.]

I walked down a winding flight of stairs to the office, and the door was locked.

I totally dreamed all of this, I thought. I hope no one sees me.

Then, from the end of a dim hallway, “Are you Will?”

The executive director led me to a conference room where we began talking about the position. Two hours later I had met many of the staff, admired the beautiful canal outside the office windows, hidden my nerves quite well (I hope), and fallen in love with this foreign place and the hope of a new battle to fight. From the moment I walked back to my car, my mind and heart have never left Indianapolis.

Then a weird thing happened: The executive director called me back a week later and offered me the job. My heart stopped for about three hours.

Am I really moving? In two weeks? Away from my friends and family?

On Friday I was hired. On Saturday I signed a lease for a new apartment in Indianapolis. On Sunday I rested (because apparently you’re supposed to). And today I gave my two-weeks’ notice and started packing. Oh my.

People, I am scared. This feels like a huge risk, and this is the first major decision I have completely made on my own. But I am thrilled, actually, and I know in my heart this is exactly what I’m supposed to do.

So, in conclusion… (Seriously, this has been really long and I’m just going to end it. You’re probably already off of this page playing Farmville.) I hope for ten things as I move forward:

• To keep old friends
• To make new friends
• To love my family more every day
• To do excellent work
• To Google the definition for what a “Hoosier” is
• To be myself with new people
• To be patient
• To drink less Diet Coke
• To reach out when I am lonely
• To be brave

Therefore, I bid thee farewell, Kentucky. And I suppose I should tell you not to forget to brush your teeth.

Will Sears is the new Director of Communications for the Indiana Dental Association in Indianapolis, IN. He will soon reside in Indianapolis with his dog, Dora.