When life’s random turns reveal God’s will

• | By Heather Esker, For the Catholic Herald Most people who ask how I ended up in Wisconsin and working for the Diocese of Madison get my lighthearted answer: That my life is a series of wonderfully random events. I’ve lived in six states, worked in several different industries, and somehow collected enough unexpected turns to fill a small book. But behind the twists and turns, I’ve come to see a steady thread of purpose woven through my journey. I grew up in the small town of Effingham in southern Illinois. After a year of college in Indiana, I served as a missionary with NET Ministries in Minnesota — an experience that changed the way I understood service and faith. I later transferred to Ave Maria University in Florida, graduated, and spent four years working in residence life at Franciscan University of Steubenville. About six years ago, I moved to Baraboo, then back to Illinois, then back again to Baraboo.
• Eventually, I worked in human resources at a manufacturing facility before landing my position at the diocese. Each move felt like a new chapter, even when the story didn’t entirely make sense at the time. It wasn’t always easy to recognize God’s hand in the middle of my daily life. When life felt confusing or out of my control, I would quickly fall into frustration or self-pity. My perspective began to shift when I discovered St. Alphonsus Liguori and his short work, Uniformity with God’s Will. He writes that the first step toward embracing God’s will is accepting the small, uncontrollable circumstances of life — especially the weather — without complaint. My initial reaction was less than enthusiastic. He’s telling me to stop complaining, I thought, and I wasn’t thrilled about it. But I kept reading. St. Alphonsus explains that instead of grumbling about “unbearable heat” or “piercing cold,” we should receive each day as something permitted by God. At the time, I was living in Minnesota . . . in January! Union with “piercing cold” was not high on my spiritual goals. Still, wanting to understand the teaching, I began walking outside each morning and thanking God for the freezing air — no matter how much my eyelashes froze. I can’t claim that this practice cured my complaining or made me perfectly united to God’s will, but it did reshape my heart. It taught me that God’s will is not just found in major life decisions; it’s present in the ordinary, uncomfortable, uncontrollable moments of every single day.
• Looking back, what once seemed random now feels intentional. God knows my heart far better than I do, and even when my path felt uncertain, He was guiding each step. He has even taken my mistakes, and in His mercy, transformed them into something more beautiful than anything I could have pieced together on my own. So the real answer to the question, how I ended up in Wisconsin and working for the Diocese of Madison: By God’s will and grace. I am excited to be the new project coordinator for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. I will be assisting with events, logistics, planning, and whatever helps support the mission to Go Make Disciples. I’m grateful for the joyful leadership of Bishop Hying and for the opportunity to work alongside a team dedicated to helping others encounter Christ. More than anything, I am humbled to be here. I know God has placed me in this role for a reason — even if I can’t see the full picture yet. I’m excited for the ways I will grow in this new chapter and deeply hopeful about how God will continue working through me as I serve the Church and the people of our diocese. If my life has taught me anything so far, it’s that what looks random to us is often God quietly leading us exactly where we need to be. Outside of work, I love getting to know people and the communities they’re part of. So, if you ever see me at your parish or even in the grocery store, please say “hello”! And if you ever need an easy way to start a conversation with me, just bring up backyard chickens, Blackstone recipes, baking cheesecake, or my ongoing habit of finishing impressively close to last place in various fitness competitions.

Heather Esker has lived in six states, worked across multiple industries, and collected enough unexpected life turns to fill a book. But where others might see a scattered resume, she sees something far more meaningful: the purposeful hand of God quietly guiding her path. After leaving Ave Maria University and spending four years in residence life at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Esker's journey eventually led her through manufacturing, human resources, and multiple relocations between Wisconsin and Illinois. Each move felt like a new chapter, even when the story didn't entirely make sense at the time.

The real turning point in how Esker understands her winding path came not through a major life event, but through a discovery in her spiritual reading. While living in Minnesota, she encountered St. Alphonsus Liguori's "Uniformity with God's Will" and its challenging invitation to accept life's small, uncontrollable circumstances without complaint. Her first instinct was resistance—especially when the teaching arrived during a January winter. Yet as she began her daily practice of thanking God for the freezing Minnesota air, something shifted in her heart. She learned that God's will is not reserved for major decisions alone but is present in every ordinary, uncomfortable, uncontrollable moment.

Today, Esker serves as Project Coordinator for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at the Diocese of Madison, a role she approaches with deep gratitude and trust. Supporting events, logistics, and planning for the "Go Make Disciples" mission, she carries with her the confidence that God has placed her exactly where she needs to be. Her own story has become a living testimony to her colleagues and the faithful she serves: what appears random to us is often God's careful design, leading us precisely where we belong.