If God’s will is love, what does it mean to love yourself without sliding into narcissism—or the opposite extreme of self-neglect and self-hatred? Continuing the “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” conversation, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks bring needed nuance: self-love isn’t self-worship, and self-denial isn’t automatically virtue.

They unpack why “harder” is not inherently “better,” why suffering is only meaningful when ordered to a higher purpose (love), and how true humility is simply honesty—being clear about what you’re good at and what you’re not. The episode reframes self-care as stewardship of your humanity: caring for yourself with the same respect and consistency you’d give a loved one (or even your pet), so you can show up with more freedom, joy, and capacity to serve.

Key Ideas

Ordered self-love avoids two traps: narcissism (self as god) and self-disregard (treating God’s creation as worthless).

The Christian goal isn’t “maximum suffering”; virtue often makes the good easier, more spontaneous, and more joyful over time.

Sacrifice matters—but only when it’s for a higher purpose (love of God and neighbor), not as an identity or performance.

Humility is honesty: “I’m good at X” isn’t pride, and “I’m bad at Y” isn’t self-hatred—it’s reality.

Grow the gifts you actually have, and let that growth expand your ability to love and serve others more effectively.

Links & References (official/source only)

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson (official site):
https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/

CliftonStrengths (Gallup) overview:
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx

Immanuel Kant (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry):
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/

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Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, love, self love, ordered self love, narcissism, self care, stewardship, humility, virtue, holiness, Lent, fasting, suffering, sacrifice, purpose, love and limits, joy, gratitude, human nature, Immanuel Kant, moral formation, Jordan Peterson, treat yourself like someone worth caring for, CliftonStrengths, Gallup StrengthsFinder, gifts and talents, discernment, prudence, growth mindset, service, charity, family leadership, fatherhood, YouTube podcast, subscribe on YouTube, algorithms

A 4-year-old’s Lenten question opens a bigger one: what does it actually mean to “act like Jesus” and pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? In this episode, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks connect Lent, Scripture, and real-life decision-making—showing that God’s will is love, but love isn’t vague “good vibes.” Love has reality, boundaries, and practical limits: what you can give, what someone can receive, and what wisdom calls for in a specific moment.

They start with the Garden of Eden and the way God speaks truth about consequences, then move into how virtue matures us toward love as the “crown” of the virtues. The conversation closes with a key challenge: most of life isn’t a carved-in-stone playbook—so how do we actually develop discernment, trust our judgment, and keep growing (with God’s grace and the help of others)?

Key Ideas

“Act like Jesus” isn’t imitation theater—it’s becoming formed in God’s logic over time, especially through Lent.

God’s will (in heaven and on earth) is love, and virtue exists to serve love.

Love has limits in practice: what you can do, what others can receive, and what is realistically possible.

We avoid what is clearly wrong, but we don’t always instantly know the most loving “right” in gray areas.

Discernment grows through prayer, experience, feedback, community wisdom, and noticing wounded places that distort decisions.

The Holy Spirit forms Christians gradually—more sensitivity, better judgment, more Christlike freedom.

Scripture Mentioned (no links)

Genesis 2–3 (Garden of Eden context)

Matthew 6:10 (“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”)

Galatians 6:2 (“Carry one another’s burdens…”)

Romans 13:10 (“Love is the fulfillment of the law”)

Acts 3:1–10 (the beggar at the Beautiful Gate)

Links & References (official/source only)

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson (official site):
https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/

CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.
Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com
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Tags (comma-separated)

Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Lent, Ash Wednesday, first week of Lent, giving things up, sacrifice, act like Jesus, thy will be done, God’s will, love, virtue, prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, crown of virtues, discernment, spiritual growth, Holy Spirit, spiritual consolation, wisdom, counsel, moral norms, right and wrong, gray areas, parenting and faith, fatherhood, children’s questions, Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, Genesis, Our Father, Matthew 6:10, Galatians 6:2, Romans 13:10, Acts 3, Beautiful Gate, community learning, trusting intuition, woundedness, conflict aversion, spiritual formation, YouTube podcast, subscribe on YouTube

What do you do when someone crosses a line—especially when tolerating it could pay off financially? In this episode, Joe Rockey brings a fresh, real-world story: after years of work building a client’s business toward a major breakthrough, a volatile outburst (in front of Joe’s wife and kids) triggers a hard decision—ending the relationship right as the payoff is finally in reach.

Joe and Father Boniface Hicks walk through the difference between reacting in anger versus setting a boundary with prudence. They explore why some “wins” can feel morally and emotionally “dirty,” how a parent’s choices shape a family’s peace, and how God can give clarity through interior calm (the “snow globe” settling). The conversation stays grounded in the three-relationship lens: integrity within self, charity and boundaries with others, and discernment under God.

Key Ideas

Not every hard decision is a moral absolute; many are prudential judgments about what you will (and won’t) tolerate.

Boundaries protect your family culture as much as they protect your business.

Sometimes the “cost” isn’t money—it’s the sense that accepting certain behavior taints the relationship and the fruit of the work.

Discernment can show up as interior peace and clarity after a difficult decision (“snow globe” settling).

Growth is real when old triggers don’t produce the old reactions—faith can re-train anger into measured action.

Links & References (official/source only)

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson (official site):
https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/

CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.
Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com
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Tags (comma-separated)

Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, anger, boundaries, prudence, discernment, interior peace, spiritual consolation, St Ignatius, snow globe analogy, integrity, family leadership, fatherhood, marriage, self-control, emotional regulation, respect, conflict, workplace behavior, client management, business ethics, professionalism, verbal outbursts, tolerance limits, long-term payoff, sacrifice, protecting children, trust, relationships, communion, God’s guidance, decision-making, consequences, freedom, courage, peace