My mind is racing as I behold a cherry blossom shower outside my office window. Heaven knows I will miss this visual as long as I have a career and a nameplate. To whom I’ve conversed with and to what I’ve learned within this space, I will always be grateful.

Still, the bell tolls for transition. There’s so much I could say, so much I wish I could share. But with wisdom in tow, often less is more. After all, this isn’t the same Cam who left his prior gig, who crashed out under the weight of burnout and bereavement grief. No, this is a new day fueled by fresh perspective and humble beginnings having aged well. With broadened scope, I proceed with gratitude, praising God for what He has done and how He has led.

Granted, this doesn’t mean I’m unruffled within the timing. After a decade in state government and four years at a private nonprofit accounting firm, I expected this season to last longer. Considering my vocational arc, an Accounting Manager opportunity in a ministry non-profit setting made sense. Yet, as I’ve sought the Lord, He has settled and focused my mind onto a critical concept – His use of the ‘lifeboat’ season.

What is a ‘lifeboat’ season? In short, it’s a relatively shorter stretch of time when God moves and matures us from or through chaos to sharpen our reliance. Like a bridge or connector between longer, more pronounced periods, a lifeboat season is more than a transient résumé stop but a recalibrating place where God purifies, rehabs, and in some cases, accelerates us to higher ground. If you’ve ever experienced a two-in-one type year with accelerant meeting the growth track, chances are you were in a lifeboat, a gifted opportunity to discover and recover.

In many ways, this is why I can smile when reflecting on my 28 months at Mercy Multiplied. Despite a decent amount of corporate transition during my tenure, the Lord proved faithful in connecting me to the right people at the right time. To the extent I endured, to that extent I sensed my contributions steadying the course during critical moments. The cross-departmental endeavors, the ability to improve systems, the capacity to learn from the past and on-the-go simultaneously, the privilege to mentor a younger associate, these are only a few of the perks I’ll miss moving forward.  

To Keli Haymes and Hanna Noel, thank you for not only bringing me on board but ushing me into a foreign culture with grace while helping me discover my voice. To Patrick Bates and Kathryne Coonce, thank you for the quality guidance and tag-teaming in helping me finish my first year strong. To Melanie Wise, Erin Gentry, Rachel Bedenbaugh, Lauren Hobar, Stephanie Levesque, Jessica Jackson, Julie Bowsher, Canaan Lucas, Caronda Williams, Wendy Nichols, Sharon Manuel, Shantray Smith, Cindi Hagen, Melody Morris, Brittany Porter, thank you for the unique ways you’ve encouraged me over the years while entertaining my budget/accounting inquiries. To Meaghan Briggs, watching your leadership evolution has been a highlight the past year. I wish you nothing but the best as you continue co-captaining the ship!

To Danae Dalbey, Hayley Freels, Adelein Nichols, Ana Holland, Mikaela Moore, Pachion Moore, Katelyn Sehl, Sarah Vaughn, Whitney Robinson, Whitney Thomas, Loryann Sanchez, Shakayla Hall, the CWC/KTF support staff, current home staff, as well as all California home alum, I salute you and your hustle in getting things done with professional efficiency! Your effort and the brightness through which it shines, both past and present tense, is worthy of applause.

To the few, the proud, the men of Mercy, Jim Melton, DJ Tidwell, Jonathan Myrick, Daniel Reed, I can’t thank you enough for the laughs, the lunches, and the camaraderie behind the scenes. No question, it was very much needed. Here’s to not being strangers as we voyage into the great beyond.

To Ashton Nawas, holy smokes, I could not have excelled without your ‘safety net’ presence. What a joy it was to work with you and the Inflammo team these past few years! Same shout-out to Blankenship, especially Tommy Wooten for carrying us through some grueling audits! No question, I learned a great deal from you and your teams in the realm of financial storytelling.

Circling back to Jonathan, words only go so far in conveying how proud I am of who you are and the character you’ve modeled since you joined the Mercy team. You can take it to the bank, I will greatly miss the collaboration, the troubleshooting, and serving alongside you in the trenches. Your loyalty and steadfastness tandem is off the charts and has been an inspiration to many. You’re in good hands with Danielle and I look forward to hearing how God uses you and Katy in the years ahead!

And so, there you have it. With a full heart and misty eyes, I sign off on this assignment. I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve finished the race, and I’ve kept the faith. No regrets, no hard feelings. Just love and simply Jesus. Time to flip the page and let the Master Author pen a new chapter.

For the last time on this ground, I toast in triumph…

Lord, have Mercy.