Who is Deacon Dance?

    I’m not really sure how to write an about me page. It feels silly to write an autobiography when I know I’m not really all that interesting a character. There are more fun and useful things to do than read about me, like washing your cat, or learning to ride a unicycle, or if you want something really useful, pray a rosary! Really, I recommend you do that.

Still here? Your loss…

Well, if you are determined to waste your time, I’ll hit some highlights.

Yosemite National Park is the most beautiful place in the world, or at least it was 20 years ago when I saw my bride for the first time. I was a rather bad mountain climber living climbing a small rock when she came up with her roommate. I knew her roommate from my travels, and she just wanted to say hi. The sun beamed out from the clouds and shined brightly on Kim’s face, but being young and naive, I didn’t notice. It took her offering me a beer that evening to realize what was going on.

We married soon after, and of all the stupid things I have done in my life, at least I got this one singular thing right. Kim has been my steadfast companion and dearest friend ever since, and I could not imagine a day without her. It’s my greatest hope that we die together of old age on the same night, so that we never have to spend a day without each other.

We started raising a family right out the gate, and my two daughters were born. They have been my greatest teachers, and I cannot that the Lord enough for the lessons they have taught. I have learned I am not the center of the universe, that I can both change diapers and save for somebody else’s college. Watching them grow into beautiful young woman is my favorite pastime, unless they are beating me at cards. Then I just want them to go away.

Other than that, the rest of my family is amazing. I don’t know, I can’t really do an about me, without talking about all of them. How beautiful it is the we are more ourselves when we talk about others.

I am a convert, not a cradle Catholic. I converted when my children were young from Buddhism. It’s a long story, but the key points are easy enough. I grew up without faith, and when I learned there might be an answer to the “big” questions, like, why are we here and stuff, that became my primary interest. So I spent my youth studying religion. Buddhism was the most sensible to my youthful mind, so I naturally went there. I was meditating in the temple one day, and I realized I didn’t really believe it, it was just logical, so I started thinking a whole lot about it. In the end, I realized that Catholicism had the truth. This was a surprise, as I didn’t really want to be Catholic. My wife was more surprised when I came home and told her. I went to mass that weekend, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve missed since then. Praise be to God for walking me home.

I think I always knew I would be a deacon, though I didn’t have the word before I converted. The second I did, I knew that was my path. There was no light, no message from the clouds, I just knew. I also knew the time was wrong, and I had to raise my kids. Within a few years, my pastors and deacons were encouraging me to go through formation, and when my daughters were older, I eventually did. The decision wasn’t really that complicated.

I was ordained in the diocese of Santa Rosa, and it was every bit as important to me as my wedding. When I got married I became a husband, and my life changed. Ordination was the same, but different. I think the best way I can describe it is this: I know I have family duties and obligations to everyone around me in a way I didn’t before. It’s really a lot like marriage, new family, new responsibilities.

I teach theology at a Catholic School, and I love my job. I get to talk about Jesus all day, and get paid for it, then I get to go to church and talk about him some more, and not get paid for it. I like it a lot. I think that’s why I started this website, so I can talk about Him some more. There really isn’t much else worth talking about.

There you go. Now you know me, so we can be friends.

Blessings!

ps: Yes, my name really is Dance. It’s a funny name, I know. I promised my mother I would never blame her for my silly desire to change my name at 19. At least it’s easy for people to remember!