February 14, 2024. It was Ash Wednesday, and there I was on a job site with ashes on my forehead. We had a typical construction coordination meeting, and one of the electricians made a joke about Catholics as he walked in. I tend to take such remarks in stride. I’ve grown desensitized to the jabs and jeers on jobsites over the years. The meeting ended, and we all went back to our tasks.
But the next day, he came up to me during my walkthrough. As he lit his cigarette, he inhaled deeply and said, “Man, I’m sorry about yesterday… you know, the Catholic thing…”
Before I could reply, he explained his negative experiences with religion and why he assumed all Catholics were a certain way. Then he looked at me and said: “But you aren’t like that.”
The Preset vs. The Reality
The world loves to apply an algorithm to our humanity. It wants to put us into templates, saying, “Since he is X, he must be Y and Z.” It influences us to stop thinking, accept the presets, and move on.
But many of us feel a “restlessness” with that status quo. We desire to live an intentional life, but we feel stereotyped by our faith or squeezed by a culture that values the superficial over the substantial.
A Restless Life is a long-term project of formation. It is written from a Catholic worldview, for those trying to live deliberately in a distracted world.
Prioritizing Life: The Tree Metaphor
To build a life that is durable and integrated, I use the framework of a Tree. While the world is obsessed with the “leaves”, the things people identify at a glance, I focus on getting the roots right – the sturdy foundation to build upon.
- 1. The Roots (The Soul): The “why.” This is a grounding in faith, vocation, and the interior life that keeps one steady when the winds of culture shift.
- 2. The Trunk (The Mind): The “how.” This is the discipline of attention, the formation of wisdom, and the cultivation of intellectual friendship. If we do not tend to the Mind, we live according to reactions instead of intentions.
- 3. The Fruit (The Body): The “what.” This is our material life, the things people see. This is shown as physical discipline, craftsmanship, and the tools we use. These are acts of service to the soul, not ends in themselves.
A Steady Rhythm
You can expect a pace that respects your time and mine:
- Weekly Reflections: Meditations on the Sunday Mass readings to help me stay ahead of the week’s distractions and try to be present while in the pew.
- Deeper Dives: Monthly (or bi-monthly) posts exploring the Soul, Mind, or Body. These are longer explorations of stewardship, focus, and intentional living.
A Promise of Integrity
This site is a mission, not a sales pitch. To maintain that clarity, I do not use affiliate links or promote items for profit. Recommendations here are acts of service and ways to help you find things that are durable and true. I cannot let the “what” of the Body determine the “why” of the Soul.
If this way of seeing the world helps you breathe easier, stay.
The best way to join this path is to subscribe. You will receive these reflections as they are lived: slowly, quietly, and with intention.
No spam. No “hacks.” No spectacles. Just a life examined.