Movement ≠ Action

Faithful Deeds Over Busy Motion

“Never confuse movement with action.” — Ernest Hemingway

Men, there is a kind of man who is always moving.

He has plans. Messages to answer. Opinions to give. He is tired at the end of the day. He mistakes the sweat on his brow for progress.

But nothing in his life changes.

Hemingway understood something many men do not. Movement feels like action. It can be easily mistaken for action. It impresses other men who are also moving.

But it does not cost enough.

Action costs.

A man can read theology for hours and never pray. He can argue about the Church and never go to confession. He can talk about leadership and never lead his own home.

Saint James cuts through the fog. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Hearing is movement.
Doing is action.

It is possible to deceive ourselves with Catholic “activity.” Podcasts. Conferences. Debates. Even ministry.

James does not praise the informed man. He commands the obedient one.

Christ is even more direct. In the Gospel of Matthew He says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father.”

A man can say the right words. He can post the right verses. He can wear the right medals. But heaven is not entered by movement of the mouth.

It is entered by obedience.

Real action begins where pride ends.

You can pace the house thinking about prayer. That is movement.
You can read about prayer. That is movement.
You can debate prayer. That is movement.

But kneeling in silence before God is action.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” In the Book of Psalms we are commanded to be still before we act.

Most men cannot stand still. Silence exposes them. Stillness reveals whether they are strong or only loud.

Catholic masculinity is not frantic. It is steady.

Saint Paul tells the idle to “do their work in quietness.”

Quietness.

That is not the language of modern masculinity. It is the language of Saint Joseph.

Thirty years of hidden work in Nazareth. No applause. No stage. No audience.

Most men want three years of public victory. They refuse thirty years of hidden obedience. Movement seeks to be seen. Action seeks to be faithful.

“Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Speech is cheap.
Deed is costly.

The Cross looked like stillness. Christ fixed in place. No movement left in Him.

Yet that was the greatest action in history.

Stillness can redeem the world. Noise rarely does.

We must examine our lives.

Are you moving or acting? Are you speaking or obeying? Are you visible or faithful?

Go to Mass.
Go to confession.
Lead your family in prayer.
Work hard.
Guard your eyes.
Keep your word.

Do not confuse movement with action.

Stand still before God long enough to receive your orders.

Then act.

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Be the Creed

Nick | Catholic Manhood