This is my seventh post for the Your Turn Challenge.

Status of my goals:

• Marathon: On Track. No change since yesterday. I start week 3 of the Couch to 5K program tomorrow.
• Two Square Yards of Earth: Behind Schedule. Made progress on the outline today, but still not as far along as I’d like to be.
• 100 Posts: Ahead of Schedule. This is my ninth post for the year, of six planned by today.

How many of us would have the courage to abandon a promising career on a matter of principle?

Let’s raise the stakes in the scenario: Let’s say all your life you’ve dreamed of being something. Everything you’ve done has been with an eye to your goal of becoming what you want to be, to living your dream. And you’ve arrived. People love what you do, love you for doing it, and regularly clamor for more.

But there’s something wrong with the dream. See, the people you’re serving so well belong to an organization that openly excludes a certain group of people. And you are secretly one of those people. You’ve tried not to be. You’ve made yourself physically ill trying not to be who you are, trying desperately to fit in with what the people you love say you’re supposed to be.

And in order to keep advancing your career–to keep living your dream–you feel like you have to keep trying, keep pretending not to be who you are. Because if the people you love to serve find out who you really are, your dream will be over.

You can continue to follow your dream–or you can be true to who you are. Now how many of us would have the courage to give it up?

I don’t think I would.

But that’s exactly the choice Vicky Beeching made earlier this year. Ms. Beeching, although a native of England, made a name for herself singing Christian music to American audiences. By 2014, she was routinely performing before packed megachurches and arenas. Her music is beautiful, the tunes easy to follow, the lyrics infectious. It’s great music to sing along to–just the sort of music you want in your church. You can find it on Pandora or iTunes–I’d guess you can’t find it on your local Christian radio station anymore.

Because Vicky Beeching is gay, and in August, she came out in a story in The Independent. It’s a good story, well-written and intimate. I recommend it if you have a moment.

So much for singing to American churches.

She had to find a new dream, and it looks like she’s off to a great start: The “Latest Media & News” section of her website contains story after story about her recent work speaking around the world in support of marriage equality and in defiance of shame.

I, for one, am watching for great things from Ms. Beeching. I look forward to seeing where her courage leads her next.