You do take up space in people’s lives. You do “bother” your spouse. Good. Do it on purpose and do it with love!

This episode dives into what it actually means to care for others in community—especially in recovery. Michael and Nick unpack how love isn’t just a feeling, but a choice to seek another’s good at your own expense. They talk about why presence matters more than fixing, how to receive love before trying to give it, and why isolation always kills growth. It’s an honest look at how real connection—spiritual, emotional, and physical—is built one intentional act of care at a time.

In this episode we cover

• Four kinds of love (fast + useful): phileo (friendship), storge (family allegiance), eros (passion; notably not used in the NT as a verb), agape (God’s self-giving love)
• Agape made concrete: John 13–17; “no greater love” = your good at my expense
• Presence > fixing: why texting isn’t enough, why a phone call is better, and why in-person is best (“borrow the calm”)
• Bearing burdens without controlling outcomes: Gal. 6:2 as the gut-check for real care
• Receiving before giving: if you can’t receive love, you’ll have nothing real to offer (Luke 7:36–50)
• Emotional presence for men: what it looks like to sit with anger, sadness, fear—without fixing or fleeing
• Compassion as an anchoring emotion: Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4); attunement before advice
• Stop the “pornified” quick fix: community is cultivated, not hacked—take the first small step and stay

Links & resources

• Free Quick Start Guide: rscky.com/quickstart
• Coaching / Next Step: rscky.com
• Instagram: @mikekamber • @nickwbuda DM “FREEDOM” on IG to get connected.

If you’re new here

Stuck in isolation? Start small. Show up somewhere this week. Ask one person for coffee. Say, “I don’t need you to fix anything—just be with me.”