Manly Catholic: Igniting Men to Light the World on Fire Day 31 - Rowing with Jesus: Trusting the Coxswain of Your Life
Gentlemen, picture this: you’re in a boat, rowing hard, but you can’t see the finish line. Who’s steering you through the chaos? Day 31 of our Lenten journey with St. Joseph brings a powerful analogy that’ll hit home for every Catholic man striving to live with purpose. In this reflection, I unpack a gem from Emily Wilson about Jesus as the coxswain of our lives. He’s the one calling the pace, guiding us through turbulent waters, while we row blind. St. Joseph steps up as our model: a man who trusted God’s voice, grabbed his oar, and rowed without hesitation, even when the night was dark and the devil was near.
We dive into the rowing team of your life. Who’s in your boat? Your wife, your kids, closest brothers? Are you syncing with Jesus, or spinning in circles, distracted by the noise of the world? I challenge you today: reflect on who is in your boat right now. What direction are you heading? Whose voice are you tuning into—Jesus, the father of lies, or the endless scroll of dopamine hits? Your choice dictates your life’s course. We wrap with a prayer to St. Joseph, guardian of families, to keep us steady.
Hit play, Catholic men. Reflect on your boat, your crew, and your coxswain. Then ask: whose voice am I following?
References Mentioned:
- The Boys in the Boat (movie/book about the 1936 Olympic rowing team)
- Emily Wilson (Catholic speaker)
- St. John Paul II’s Redemptoris Custos (mentioned from previous episode)
Powerful Quotes
- “Jesus is literally the only one in your life who knows where you are going.”
- “You cannot chase the noise. You need to stay on the oar and listen to the voice of your coxswain.”
- “The decision you make is gonna dictate the rest of your life.”
Key Takeaway
Reflect today: identify the voice you’re listening to most—Jesus or the distractions—and realign your focus on Him as your coxswain. Trust His pace, even when you can’t see the shore.
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