Perspective and Influence

And no, I’m not talking about the NSA, the Russians, or Google.

Someone sent us a link to an article last week, reminding us that our marriage isn’t just for us—that our marriage is actually a living, visible example to the rest of the world. We have no idea of the good we do by living a truly Catholic marriage.

It reminded me of another article I read with a similar message—about how we are all being watched—by other couples, and by teens and young adults considering their own married life.

(more…)

I think it’s safe to say that a forest worth of paper has been wasted over the years in the form of unopened instruction manuals, and unread assembly instructions. Assembly Instructions? ‘How To’ Manuals? Almost as a rite of passage into manhood we have been conditioned to figure it out, learn as we go, solve it ourselves. Asking for directions or reading the manual is like a show of weakness.

But I think it’s true for all of us that one area that we already ‘read’ or ‘study’ – is in our professions. Whether we’re a ditch digger, a farmer, or a doctor, if we’re not constantly learning, we aren’t going to get better at our career, and before long we’re going to be marginalized, stuck, or unemployed. And this learning takes the form of reading, study, and learning from others who are more knowledgeable.

But what about our Marriages? Are we ‘figuring it out’ as we go – like putting together a bike, or are we studying – like it’s super important and we can’t afford to screw it up?

(more…)

What are we doing?

On a day-to-day basis, hour by hour, what are we thinking about? The bills, the lawn, the fence, the never-ending projects, the demanding clients, the persistent problems?

But what’s critical? What’s important? Sure, these things mean something – we have to be concerned about them – but what’s really important? Not what’s urgent or in our way or in our face. What’s truly important?

(more…)