One Reasonable Thing
A Reflection Guide In Defense of Prudence
This reflection guide invites us to imagine the good life—not as a finish line, but as a kind of faithfulness. Rooted in ancient wisdom and gentle theological inquiry, it explores the virtue of prudence: that rare capacity to choose the right action at the right time. With questions that stretch from Aristotle to Augustine to Paul, participants are encouraged to notice how virtue is formed not only by repetition, but by grace.
This guide is a quiet companion for those discerning their next right thing, who want to do not everything, but one good thing—reasonably, gently, and with hope for the season ahead.
1. The ancient world asked, “What makes a life good?” not in terms of outcome, but in terms of essence. What does the “good life” mean to you?
2. How has your definition of “the good life” changed over time?
3. What (or who) comes to mind when you think of the virtue, prudence?
4. Can you think of a time when “right action at the right time” mattered in your own life?
5. Aristotle believed we become virtuous through habitual good actions. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
6. Augustine warned that even our best habits can be corrupted if we desire the wrong things.So we don’t just need the skill to choose well. We need the grace to want well. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
7. Paul encouraged believers to “not grow weary in doing good” (Gal 6:9), but despite best intentions, our obligations, exhaustion, or busyness make it easy to peter out. What keeps you from practicing the good habits you long for?
8. Where do you see the Holy Spirit already at work in your life?
9. As you begin to imagine a habit you want to try for this fall, start by considering the following:
In what direction do I want to grow?
What do I actually have the energy for?
What practice fits into my actual days?
10. What small habit or practice would you like to begin this fall?
11. How might we support each other in our One Reasonable Thing?
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Want to Go Deeper?
Read this Substack Article and add your One Reasonable Thing to the comments for a little accountability.
A Blessing for When You Want to Change (But Not Overnight)
Blessed are you who begin again.
You who resist the pressure to overhaul your entire life in a weekend.
Who pick one underwhelming thing and say:
“This. I can do this. Probably.”
Blessed are we, the slow changers,
Hungry for all that makes life good,
but exhausted by the thought of what it might take to get there. We who want to pause long enough to ask:
Is this mine to do?
And can I do it without becoming completely unbearable?
For we are the back-to-school grownups
trying again,
with a commitment to One Reasonable Thing.
That probably won’t fix us,
but hope to make us more loving,
and less prone to raging at people in the car.
More compassionate,
and less delusional.
More attuned to the good,
and less enslaved by the “should.”
May these small habits help us become.
Not our best selves.
But faithful and present and less cranky by dinner.
May we be open to all that God is doing
in us and through us.
And maybe, just maybe, we will change.
Slowly. Faithfully.
All with the help of God.
