Building Something
A Formation House for the Domestic Church
Last night I sat down with Suzanne, Joseph, and Andrew to walk them through what I've been working on - family meeting style. Thomas and Matthew are next.
Deacon Michael Halbrook
Faith, family, work, and life - all intertwined.
Permanent deacon of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Husband, father of four sons, builder of Catholic technology, and writer of essays, fiction, and homilies.
Homilies & Reflections
Let Your 'Yes' Mean 'Yes'
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus goes deeper than the Law—teaching that it's not enough to avoid murder or adultery or false oaths. God cares about what's happening in your heart. And he ends with this: "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'"
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Practices
What You Build When Nobody's Watching
Your day job is what pays you. What you build on nights and weekends is what calls you. Pay attention to the difference - it's trying to tell you something.
Homilies & Reflections
You ARE the Light - So Stop Hiding It
Notice what Jesus says: "You ARE the light of the world." Not "try to be the light." Not "work really hard to become the light someday." You ARE the light. Right now. By your baptism.
Faith & Life
What Disneyland Gave Me for the Second Half
On clarity, flywheels, and the formation house I didn't know I was building For months, I've been praying for clarity and courage.
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Wisdom
Too Late Is Usually a Lie
I started running at 46.Not jogging. Not "getting back into it." Starting from zero.I couldn't run a mile without stopping. My body hurt. My lungs burned. Every
Homilies & Reflections
The Beatitudes Are a Mirror, Not a Checklist
We read the Beatitudes like a spiritual to-do list. Be meek. Check. Be merciful. Check. Be a peacemaker. Check. But that misses the point entirely.
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Transitions
The Pivot to the Real
I send at least one handwritten note every week.It's slow. It's inefficient. It can't be scaled. And it lands differently than anything digital ever will.The pe
Homilies & Reflections
Stop Waiting
"At once they left their nets and followed him." "Immediately they left their boat and their father." Not "let me think about it." Not "after I finish this project." Not "once my life is in order." At once. Immediately.
Faith & Life
Offering the Miles
Somewhere around mile eight, I hit the Presentation again. I run with a finger rosary. It's the only way I've found to pray consistently through a half marathon - my mind wanders, my legs burn, but my thumb keeps moving bead to bead.
Faith & Life
The Name Before the Work
It was the summer of 1994 when I kept my vigil in the Order of the Arrow. The OA is Scouting's honor society - you don't apply; your peers select you.
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Transitions
The Questions Nobody Warns You About
Everyone tells you what to do in your 20s and 30s.Work hard. Build skills. Climb the ladder. Prove yourself. Provide for your family.The path is clear. The metr