Father and Joe E378: Navigating Desires and Complex Choices: Parenting, Self-Control, and Faith

In this episode of the Father and Joe podcast, hosts Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks explore the deep and often complex relationship between human desires, self-control, and the journey of faith. Through thoughtful and personal examples, Joe shares his experiences as a parent of a toddler, facing the daily challenges of saying "no" to his son and teaching him what is truly best in the long run. Father Boniface provides insightful reflections on how our innate human tendencies, from childhood through adulthood, can shape how we approach life's choices—whether it’s something as simple as craving candy bars or something as profound as navigating sexual desires.

As Joe explains, "What we want now keeps getting debased lower and lower with less and less forethought down the road...this is why you see much more obesity, diabetes, etc. because, ooh, it tastes good now." This concept of instant gratification versus long-term good is central to the discussion, with Joe and Father Boniface exploring how modern society complicates our ability to discern what we truly need and how that impacts our spiritual journey.

Father Boniface offers a deep dive into the importance of recognizing both the good and bad in our desires. He states, "Helping people to choose according to the fullness of reality rather than the immediate satisfaction of the moment is a really crucial thing." This episode sheds light on how parents can help children navigate their emotions and desires, but also how adults can learn to better understand the desires within themselves.

Sexuality, one of the most complex and misunderstood topics, is also discussed in a thoughtful and faith-based way. Father Boniface remarks, “Sex is holy. It just has to be in the right context of marriage and open to all of the right things.” He emphasizes the beauty of sexual desires when they are expressed within the fullness of God’s design, while cautioning against the dangers of oversimplifying these desires into black-and-white rules that don't capture their true purpose.

This conversation isn’t just for parents; it’s for anyone grappling with desires, self-control, or seeking deeper meaning in their spiritual and personal lives. The hosts offer practical wisdom on how to shape desires in a healthy way and avoid internal conflict or self-hatred by better understanding their root causes.

Tune in for an enlightening discussion that challenges societal norms around instant gratification and offers a faith-filled approach to navigating life’s most difficult choices. Share this episode with someone who needs guidance in their spiritual journey or is facing challenges in discerning what’s truly good for them.

Highlights from the episode:

• Joe’s experience as a parent: "He knows. Well, if dad's going to say no, Aunt Lauren will say yes. So I'm just going to ask her."
• Father Boniface on navigating desires: “What you want right now, in the short term, may not be what’s truly good for you in the long run.”
• The balance between physical cravings and long-term consequences, using candy bars as an example.
• Sexual desires and the importance of context within marriage: “Sex is not bad. Sex is holy. It just has to be in the right context of marriage.”
• How parents can help guide children through their desires in a healthy and faith-centered way.

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