RESTORE
This chapter from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new "Expression" of God’s Love to RESTORE the Truth.
This chapter from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new “Expression” of God’s Love to RESTORE people to the Truth.
The BFG Companion App meets you where you are, understands what you are facing, and guides you to the Truth with faith, clarity and renewed peace.
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Chapter 12: Living in the Spirit
Sight betrays the eye 1
Noise deafens the ear 2
Gluttony dulls the taste 3
Racing and wild hunting trouble the mind 4
Worldly treasures confuse the heart 5
Thus, the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh 6
Choosing the internal and letting go of the external 7
When Seeing Is Not Seeing
“Sight betrays the eye”
Chapter 12 of the Christian edition of the Tao Te Ching, titled Living in the Spirit, addresses the distractions and deceptions that come from worldly desires and sensory experiences, urging the reader to seek the Spirit rather than the flesh. It begins by describing how the senses—sight, hearing, taste, and the mind—can mislead or deceive. Sight can fail to perceive the truth, noise can drown out what is important, and excessive indulgence in food or worldly pleasures dulls one’s spiritual sensitivity. This idea aligns with biblical teachings that warn against being led astray by worldly appetites and distractions. For instance, in John 9:41, Jesus rebukes those who claim they see but remain spiritually blind. Similarly, in Mark 4:9, the parable of the sower speaks to how the distractions of life can choke the seed of God’s word, preventing it from bearing fruit. The pursuit of worldly pleasures, such as gluttony, is also condemned in Romans 14:17 and Philippians 3:19, which emphasize that the kingdom of God is not about earthly indulgence but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Start with the first line: “Sight betrays the eye.” Our eyes are a gift, yet they are easily fooled. They believe that a filtered photo tells the whole story, that a big house means a happy family, that a perfect feed means a perfect life. The most dangerous blindness, Jesus says, is not the kind we admit but the kind we never notice. The man born blind knew he needed Jesus. The ones who said “we see” did not.
“…One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
John 9:25ESV
That is the turning point of the story. The healed man did not have every answer, but he knew who had opened his eyes. Christian seeing begins there: we ask Jesus to heal how we look at ourselves, at others and at the world. Then we can enjoy what is beautiful without being ruled by it, and look past appearances to what is real.
“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…”
Ephesians 1:18ESV
“Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus… His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in the light of his truth and his compassion for all men.”Catechism 2715
“The means of social communication (especially the mass media) can give rise to a certain passivity among users, making them less than vigilant consumers of what is said or shown. Users should practice moderation and discipline in their approach to the mass media.”Catechism 2496
You open your phone for one quick thing and look up much later. In between, you have seen a friend’s beach trip, a stranger’s perfect kitchen and an ad that seems to know exactly what you secretly want. None of it was evil, but somehow you feel a little poorer, a little behind, a little less. That is “sight betrays the eye” in modern clothes. What we keep looking at slowly becomes what we think life should look like. Jesus offers new eyes: eyes that see His gifts already in front of us, and the people right beside us.
Try this today: Before you scroll today, look up and thank God for a few real gifts you can see right where you are.
Hearing the Gentle Whisper
“Noise deafens the ear”
“Noise deafens the ear.” Our days are packed with sound: earbuds, notifications, news alerts, a TV on in the background, group chats that never sleep. Even our silence is often filled with worry. The chapter’s footnotes take us to the prophet Elijah, worn out and hiding in a cave. God came to him, but not in the loud things.
“…but the LORD was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”
1 Kings 19:11-12NRSVue
God still speaks that way. He does not shout over our noise; He waits for us to turn it down. Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:9). Hearing is a choice. When we make a little quiet each day, in the car without the radio, on a walk without earbuds, in an empty church, the whisper becomes clear again.
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27NRSVue
“The prayerful reading of God’s word, which is “sweeter than honey” (Ps 119:103) yet a “two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12), enables us to pause and listen to the voice of the Master.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 156
“In their “one to one” encounters with God, the prophets draw light and strength for their mission. Their prayer is not flight from this unfaithful world, but rather attentiveness to the Word of God.”Catechism 2584
Think about the last time it was truly quiet around you. No podcast, no TV in the next room, no buzz in your pocket. For many of us it has been a while, and if we are honest, silence can feel uncomfortable. The moment it gets quiet, we reach for something to fill it. But “noise deafens the ear,” and the voice we most need is the softest one. A student who drives to school without music, a mom who sits in the parked car for a moment before going inside: small silences like these are where God often whispers.
Try this today: Drive, walk or wash the dishes today in silence, and ask, “Lord, what are You saying to me?”
A Hunger Only God Can Fill
“Gluttony dulls the taste”
“Gluttony dulls the taste.” Anyone who has eaten too much dessert knows it: the first bite is wonderful, and by the end we barely notice it. The same is true of shows, shopping, gaming or anything we binge. Too much of a good thing dulls our joy in it. Scripture is honest about where that road can lead: a life ruled by appetite.
“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Philippians 3:19ESV
God made food and every good pleasure as gifts, and He wants us to enjoy them. Gluttony is not enjoying; it is grabbing more than we need, hoping it will fill a deeper emptiness. Only God can fill that. Jesus, who fasted in the desert, offers Himself as the bread that truly satisfies, and He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.””
John 6:35NRSVue
“The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.”Catechism 2290
“The fifth precept… ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.”Catechism 2043
It is late, you are tired, and the next episode starts on its own. One more. Then one more. Or it is the snack drawer, the online cart, the energy drinks that get you through the afternoon. None of it feels like a big deal, but by the end of the week nothing tastes as good as it used to, and you still feel empty. That is what Chapter 12 means by “gluttony dulls the taste.” The answer is not shame. It is a gentle “enough,” and turning that hunger toward the One who truly feeds us.
Try this today: Give up one small thing today, a snack, a soda or one more episode, and offer it to Jesus with a short prayer.
Stepping Off the Racetrack
“Racing and wild hunting trouble the mind”
“Racing and wild hunting trouble the mind.” When this line was first written, racing and hunting were the thrills that stirred people up. Today the race is on our calendars and the hunt is on our screens: hunting for deals, for followers, for the next opportunity, for one more thing to check off. The chase feels exciting, but it leaves the mind restless and anxious.
“Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.”
Psalm 37:7NRSVue
The Psalm’s answer is not laziness but trust. We can make plans and work hard, and still let God lead. Jesus showed this with His friend Martha, who was busy and upset about many things. He did not scold her for working; He gently invited her to the one thing that matters most: time at His feet.
“…Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one…”
Luke 10:41-42NRSVue
“We are speaking of an attitude of the heart, one which approaches life with serene attentiveness, which is capable of being fully present to someone without thinking of what comes next, which accepts each moment as a gift from God to be lived to the full.”Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 226
“Deliver us, Lord, we beseech you, from every evil and grant us peace in our day, so that aided by your mercy we might be ever free from sin and protected from all anxiety, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”Catechism 2854
Your mind is already on the next thing before you finish this one. At dinner you are answering emails. At your kid’s game you are checking scores from another game. In bed you are planning tomorrow. It feels productive, but it also feels like you never fully arrive anywhere. Chapter 12 names it: “racing and wild hunting trouble the mind.” God is not asking you to quit your job or drop your responsibilities. He is inviting you to be fully present where you are, because that is where He is waiting for you.
Try this today: Pick one moment today, a meal, a talk or a walk, and give it your full attention, with your phone out of reach.
Where the Heart Gets Lost
“Worldly treasures confuse the heart”
The chapter continues by pointing out that the pursuit of external things—whether it be in the form of wealth, status, or worldly pursuits—can confuse and mislead the heart. Worldly treasures are fleeting, and setting one’s heart on them distracts from the eternal treasures found in God’s presence. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul warns that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, highlighting how the pursuit of material things can lead to spiritual downfall. Jesus also teaches in Matthew 6:19-21 that where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also, urging us to focus on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.
Notice the word the chapter uses: treasures “confuse” the heart. They do not always pull us into obvious sin. More often they simply blur our priorities until we cannot tell what we really love. Jesus told of a rich man who built bigger barns and planned to take life easy, never noticing that his life was about to end. His problem was not his barns; it was where his heart had gone.
“…Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15NRSVue
In the parable of the sower, Jesus also names how this confusion works: the word of God gets choked by worries and by the pull of wealth. The cure is not to hate money or things. It is to hold them loosely, share them freely and keep our hearts anchored in God, who will never leave us.
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5ESV
“Many people know that our current progress and the mere amassing of things and pleasures are not enough to give meaning and joy to the human heart, yet they feel unable to give up what the market sets before them.”Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 209
“Detachment from riches is necessary for entering the Kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.””Catechism 2556
Pope Francis uses almost the same picture as Chapter 12: too many things can “baffle the heart.”
The package arrives, and for a day it feels great. Then the next want shows up: a newer model, a nicer car, the vacation everyone else seems to be taking. Meanwhile the bills grow, and the people we love get the leftovers of our time and attention. That is how “worldly treasures confuse the heart.” Nothing dramatic happens. We just slowly forget what matters. Then a friend gets sick, or a child asks us to play, and suddenly we remember. God wants us to remember sooner, and to store up treasure that lasts.
Try this today: Look at your last few purchases and ask Jesus, “Did this bring me closer to You and the people I love?” Then give one thing away.
The Spirit Gives Life
“Thus, the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh
Choosing the internal and letting go of the external”
The final part of this chapter emphasizes the wisdom of seeking the Spirit over the flesh. It encourages the individual to choose the internal over the external, to prioritize spiritual growth over worldly achievements. In John 6:63, Jesus declares, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” This is a call to live according to the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, rather than being driven by the desires of the flesh. Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:3, where he contrasts those who focus on external rituals with those who “worship by the Spirit of God” and put no confidence in the flesh. The Christian life, therefore, is one of inner transformation through the Spirit, as opposed to seeking validation or fulfillment through external, temporary things.
The word “Thus” gathers up the whole chapter. Because the eyes can be fooled, the ears deafened, the taste dulled, the mind troubled and the heart confused, the wise make a different choice. They do not try harder to win at the world’s game. They turn to the Spirit. Jesus knew how weak we are, and He told His friends how to stay strong.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41ESV
The last line shows what this looks like day by day: “Choosing the internal and letting go of the external.” When Samuel went to anoint a king, he was impressed by height and good looks, but God chose the shepherd boy David. God still works this way. He is not looking at our résumé or our feed; He is looking at our hearts, and He sends His Spirit to make them new.
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7ESV
“The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has been joined between “the flesh” and the Spirit.”Catechism 2819
“The Bible uses the heart to describe our real intentions, the things we truly seek and desire, apart from all appearances. “Man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart” (1Sam 16:7).”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 83
“The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully.”Catechism 2563
Two friends go to the same party. One spends the night checking how she looks, who noticed her outfit and how the photo is doing online. The other spends it listening to a friend who is going through a hard time. Both go home tired, but only one goes home full. That is the choice in Chapter 12: “choosing the internal and letting go of the external.” The outside still has its place. But the Spirit works from the inside out, and that is where real life grows.
Try this today: Tonight, ask the Holy Spirit, “Where did I live from the outside today, and where did I let You lead from within?”
Living the Chapter
The whole chapter, put into practice
Thus, Chapter 12 of the Tao Te Ching aligns with Christian teachings on the importance of living by the Spirit and not being deceived by worldly distractions. By focusing on the internal and eternal, believers are called to seek true peace, joy, and fulfillment through God’s presence and guidance, rather than through the fleeting things of the world.
What does living in the Spirit look like on an ordinary day? It looks like a quiet prayer before the phone comes on. A meal eaten slowly and with thanks. A purchase skipped, and the money given to someone in need. An evening walk without earbuds. A heart that checks in with God before it checks the news. None of this is flashy, and that is the point.
We cannot do this on our own strength; the flesh is weak. But the Spirit who raised Jesus lives in us, and He grows a different kind of fruit. Little by little, He clears the eyes, opens the ears, restores our taste for good things, calms the mind and steadies the heart.
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”
Galatians 5:22-23NRSVue
“The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.”Catechism 2015
“We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name.”Catechism 2725
Tomorrow the noise will start again: the ads, the alerts, the cravings, the race, the next shiny thing. You cannot make the world quiet. But you can choose where you look, what you listen to, what you feed on, how fast you run and what you treasure. Each small choice for the inside is a choice for the Spirit. Make it once, then again. Over time you will notice that you are calmer, freer and more alive, not because life got easier, but because Someone is living in you.
Try this today: Before bed, name one noise you will turn down tomorrow and one way you will make room for the Holy Spirit.
RENEWAL
The Trinitarian M.A.P. is the method for RENEWAL, where God’s Love shapes our MINDSET, Trust in the Son directs our AIM, and Faith in the Holy Spirit guides our PRACTICE.
This chapter offers a new “Method” for the New Evangelization to RENEW our hearts and minds through the Trinitarian M.A.P. Bring this chapter into your day with the BFG Companion App. Pick Chapter 12 and an area of your life, and get Guidance made for you.
Renewal starts in the mind, and Chapter 12 begins with a warning about how easily the mind is fooled: “Sight betrays the eye. Noise deafens the ear.” Every day our screens show us a flood of pictures, and many of them quietly tell us who to envy and what to want. Jesus warned people who were sure they saw clearly that this was their blindness (John 9:41). A renewed mind does not trust every image or every loud voice. It asks a better question: “Lord, what are You showing me here, and what is just noise?”
The chapter adds, “Worldly treasures confuse the heart.” Money, likes, a bigger house, the newest phone: none of them are evil, but they can scramble what we think matters most. Jesus put it simply: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, NRSVue). A renewed mind sorts life in God’s order. People before things. Prayer before plans. Heaven before the next upgrade. When we think this way, the heart stops spinning and starts to rest in the One who never changes.
Try this: Before you open an app today, pause and pray: “Lord, let me see what You see.”
Matthew 6:22NRSVue “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light”
Romans 12:2NRSVue “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
More Scripture: Colossians 3:2 · Colossians 3:2
A renewed mind needs a direction, and Chapter 12 names the one that lasts: “Thus, the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh.” In Scripture, “the flesh” is not the body God made good; it is the part of us that grabs for whatever feels good right now. The Spirit points us to what is good forever. Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). So we aim our days at Him: at His peace, His love and His will, not at the next quick thrill.
The chapter also warns, “Racing and wild hunting trouble the mind.” Many of us live on the hunt: for the next deal, the next win, the next notification. We race from task to task and wonder why we feel so restless. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NRSVue). Aiming at the Spirit does not mean doing nothing. It means choosing the few things that truly matter and doing them with God, instead of chasing everything and catching nothing.
Try this: Write down the one thing that matters most today, and offer it to the Holy Spirit before you start.
Galatians 5:16NRSVue “Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Romans 8:6NRSVue “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
More Scripture: Matthew 6:33 · Proverbs 19:21
Practice is where the chapter becomes a habit. “Gluttony dulls the taste.” Whatever we overdo, food, shows, shopping or scrolling, slowly stops satisfying us, and we need more just to feel the same. The Church’s old answer is still the best one: fasting. Giving up a little, freely and for love, wakes up our hunger for God. St. Paul reminds us that “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, ESV). A small fast makes room for that joy.
The chapter ends with a daily choice: “Choosing the internal and letting go of the external.” Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Matthew 23:26, ESV). So we practice tending the inside: a quiet prayer before the day starts, an honest look at our heart at night, Confession when we need it, the Eucharist on Sunday. Little by little we care less about how things look and more about who we are becoming in Christ.
Try this: Pick one small fast this week, a snack, a show or a stretch of scrolling, and spend that time with God instead.
Matthew 6:17-18NRSVue “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
2 Corinthians 4:16NRSVue “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”
More Scripture: Isaiah 55:2 · 2 Timothy 4:7
In short: think humbly, aim at what is eternal, live by the Spirit. Chapter 12: see past the noise, set your heart on the Spirit, and tend the inside, where God looks.
RESPOND
Renewal brings the transformation of our spirit with ardor, empowering us to RESPOND to the call of holiness and make disciples of all nations. This encourages meaningful dialogue to embrace shared truths that transcend cultural and religious boundaries.
Renewal does not stay inside us. When God clears our eyes and quiets our ears, He sends us to people who are still lost in the noise. Chapter 12 knows that world well: “Sight betrays the eye. Noise deafens the ear.” Our friends are not short on information; they are starving for something real. The wise seek the Spirit, and then they help others find Him.
In 1983, Saint John Paul II called the Church to an evangelization that is “new in its ardor, new in its methods, new in its expression.” The Gospel never changes. The way we carry it must be alive for our time. Chapter 12 shows why: a world of endless screens, sounds and shopping needs fresh words that point past the noise to the Spirit who gives life.
Ardor is the fire of a heart that has been loved by God. People feel it before they hear a single word. Chapter 12 says “the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh.” The fire is not hype or volume; it is the quiet life of the Holy Spirit burning within.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 12 says “sight betrays the eye,” so in a world of flashy content, a calm, honest word or a real face-to-face visit often speaks louder than anything we post.
Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 12 warns that “racing and wild hunting trouble the mind.” Our tools are meant to slow people down and lead them inward to God, not to add one more thing to chase.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 12 says “sight betrays the eye,” so in a world of flashy content, a calm, honest word or a real face-to-face visit often speaks louder than anything we post.
What my life was like before I really met Jesus.
How He met me, and the moment things began to change.
What is different now, and the hope I carry. When did you finally hear God after you turned down the noise in your life?
Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 12 warns that “racing and wild hunting trouble the mind.” Our tools are meant to slow people down and lead them inward to God, not to add one more thing to chase.
Every chapter has its own song and is written in a language people of every faith can understand. A doorway for dialogue. Chapter 12, Living in the Spirit, helps anyone who feels overstimulated, overbooked or never satisfied, no matter how much they have.
A friend shares a struggle. Together, pick a chapter and an area of life (start with Chapter 12 when someone feels buried in noise, stuck in a habit of too much, or always chasing the next thing). In seconds: a reflection, the M.A.P., a saint, a prayer, Scripture, a song and a church nearby. Send it by email, PDF or a share link.
Hard question? Ask it together. Answers are grounded in Catholic teaching, the saints and the BFG Handbook. Talk or type. Try asking together: “Why does having more never make me feel full?”
Pray the Rosary with a guided voice, the daily mysteries and beads that follow along. Pray it with someone, even over the phone. The Rosary’s slow, steady prayers are a gentle way to step out of the noise Chapter 12 warns about and let the Spirit speak.
Catholic churches near anyone, with Mass and Confession times, directions, and one tap to add a time to the calendar. Every conversation can end at a church door. In the quiet of a church, away from the noise that “deafens the ear,” Jesus waits in the Eucharist, the Bread that truly satisfies.
Morning, midday and evening prayer reminders, a daily streak and a steady prayer rhythm help a new believer keep going. A gentle call back from the noise, because “noise deafens the ear.”
Free to start, no card needed. Read aloud in 48 languages.
One tool that walks with a person from the first question to the church door.
Jesus sent His apostles first to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, then to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Start where you are. Chapter 12 says “worldly treasures confuse the heart,” so start with the people near you who seem to have everything and still feel empty.
- Pray the Rosary together on Pray My Rosary.
- Bless your children at bedtime.
- Share a Guidance with a spouse or child who is struggling.
- Find Sunday Mass times together with Church Finder.
- Try a phone-free dinner and ask: “What was the loudest thing in my day, and where did I hear God?”
- Text a verse from your Guidance.
- Ask, “How can I pray for you?” and pray right then.
- Invite a friend to Mass, then go for coffee.
- Send the line: “Choosing the internal and letting go of the external.”
- Be the calm, kind one.
- Pray on your lunch break with a reminder.
- Start a small chapter group that meets once a week. Begin with Chapter 12, Living in the Spirit.
- Respect the rules: invite, never push.
- Listen for the moment: “Things have been hard.”
- Offer: “Can I send you something that helped me?”
- Share the Chapter 12 song.
- Ask good questions and really listen.
- Share your three-part story.
- Open Ask BFG together when a question comes up.
- When a friend says they are burned out, share “Racing and wild hunting trouble the mind,” and invite them to slow down and pray with you.
- Visit the sick, the elderly and the lonely; pray the Rosary with them.
- Serve at a food bank.
- Welcome newcomers at Mass.
- Join your parish evangelization team.
- Ask shops, cafés and offices to display a BFG card with a QR code.
- Offer a short lunch talk on faith at work.
- Business owners: offer the Companion to staff as a free gift, never a requirement.
- Go where people already gather, and be the friendly one who listens.
- Pray quietly for the people around you.
- When a talk turns real, share a Guidance or the chapter song.
- Wear or carry a simple sign of your faith, like a cross or a rosary, that can start a conversation.
- At the gym, everyone trains the outside; share that Chapter 12 invites us to train the inside too, “choosing the internal.”
- Host a Chapter 12 “Living in the Spirit” night, a Handbook chapter night, a Rosary night or an “Ask Anything” faith night.
- Show the Companion on a big screen and let people try it.
- We did this at our free conference, The New Evangelization in the Age of AI, at Christ Cathedral.
- Share a Guidance, a chapter song or a Scripture card. Try: “Thus, the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh.”
- One post can reach someone you will never meet.
- Join a parish or diocese mission trip.
- The Companion speaks 48 languages, so you leave behind something that keeps speaking after you go home.
- In every culture people feel the pull of noise, cravings and possessions, so Chapter 12 is a natural bridge to the Spirit who gives life.
- Your parish ministries, the Legion of Mary, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, prison, hospital and campus ministries, and mission groups.
- Bring the BFG tools to their work.
The world will keep getting louder, faster and shinier. You do not have to shout over it. Chapter 12 says “the wise seek the Spirit and not the flesh,” and that quiet wisdom draws people more than any noise. Go with clear eyes. Go with a listening heart. Go together. The same Spirit who renewed you now sends you, to lead others out of the noise to the One who gives life.
Holy Spirit, giver of life, Holy Spirit, set my heart on fire. Jesus, send me to the one You love. Father, make me Your witness today. Amen.
NRSVue © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.