Hey there,
You’re probably wondering why this is in your inbox, especially since it’s been years since I’ve posted anything. Well, it was time for a resurrection.
↩ Looking Back
I started writing in the summer of 2009, when I had an internship at a big medical-pharmaceutical company and my boss said, “We don’t have anything else for you to do, so just find a way to occupy yourself.” And the rest is, well, a fairly incomplete history with long stretches of inactivity.
Since that time, I got married, moved overseas, and had five kids. That’s the ultra-condensed version. It’s been eventful, as 15-year stretches typically are. If you want a bit more reorientation to who I am, you can check out this about page.
I’ve always loved writing and sharing, but I didn’t prioritize it. I’m finally back in a writing rhythm—and that’s why this is in your inbox. I think one of the best ways to help people, sharpen thinking, and wrestle with new ideas is by posting content online and sending it out in newsletter format.
Here’s the plan going forward: I’ll post online at jshirk.com/blog at least once a week, and I’ll send out a newsletter highlighting that post and some other things I’ve been thinking about. I’m still focused on theology, technology, and methodology, with my most recent muses being using Artificial Intelligence, modeling the behavior we want to see in others, health and fitness, frameworks for evaluating life and ideas, and parenting.
The site has a new look and I’ve titled the site and newsletter “The Useful Life” because it sums up my own goal in life more than anything else—to live a useful life to God, to my family, and to my neighbors, wherever they may be.
The newsletter format is simple. Each week it will consist of three parts: looking back, looking up, and looking forward. There’s enough flexibility to shoehorn in whatever interesting things I want to share, but enough structure to keep it concise, meaningful, and helpful.
↑ Looking Up
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
Does just helping people with their struggles really fulfill the law of Christ? In my own experience, yes. Bearing the burden of someone else shows the love of God in such a tangible way to our fellow image bearers that it is one of the most God-honoring things we can do.
To that end, my newest post is about helping the people around you in the midst of grief. Looking up takes about all the strength you can muster in those seasons, and if we can help lift the heads of those we care about, that’s a monumental win. Here’s a little taste:
Our family experienced a crushing loss in December, and while the pain and grief continue to weigh us down, the response of the people God has placed in our lives has astounded us—in both the best and hardest ways.
Surprisingly, one of the most challenging parts of grief is the response of the people around you—some rush to your side and provide emotional CPR keeping you alive through sheer kindness. Others practically pull the plug on your life support with thoughtless comments.
Here are a few key things to remember:
If you don’t know what to say, say something simple (even if it is obvious). “I am so sorry for your loss” or “I can’t imagine what you’re feeling” or “I am here for you as you deal with your grief” are all more than enough.
Silence is not an option. You can’t wait out your friend’s grief. If you never say anything, your friend will remember and feel like you ignored her deep hurt and pain without any acknowledgment.
👉 Read the full post on helping grieving friends →
↪ Looking Forward
💭 What I’m Thinking About
Here’s a little preview of what posts are in the pipeline and things I’ve been ruminating over.
- Why is information not enough for formation to occur?
- What type of people does the world need?
- What's a hedonic treadmill and how do we hop off?
🚀 Turning Information into Action
The most successful people in the world have a razor-thin gap between gathering information and acting on that information.
– SAHIL BLOOM
I love information gathering, and it works best when we actually take action on what we’ve learned. That’s the goal of this newsletter: not just to inform, but to spark action.
What’s one piece of information or one thing you’ve learned that you need to act on today?
🔧 One Useful Thing
If you record a Voice Memo on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can copy the transcript—perfect for quick voice-to-text with a built-in audio backup. After recording, just tap the three dots to the side of the memo and then tap Copy Transcript.
Super handy for journaling, idea capture, or writing drafts on the go.
(I’ll share more on how I use this soon–with an AI twist.)
Wrapping Up
If you’re planning to stick around, I’d love to hear what resonates with you—just hit reply.
If this helped you—or made you think of someone else—would you consider forwarding it to a friend?
If my writing or this newsletter is no longer for you, you have my full blessing to eliminate one more thing from your inbox.
Here’s to living the useful life together,
