Who Am I?

My name is Ben, and here is a brief origin story if you will.

From Art to Architecture

My tech journey began long before I realized it. Originally, I wanted to pursue graphic design—I loved the act of creation. But while the adults in my life pushed for a “real job,” I was quietly fascinated by the “magic” of people typing on keyboards to make things happen.

The Turning Point

I didn’t grow up in an environment that encouraged tinkering, and my first attempt at a computer science major ended in me flunking out by the second semester. I felt like everything was written in a language I’d never speak.

However, a broken laptop and a “nugget” of information from a professor about something called Linux changed my trajectory. Installing Ubuntu 10.04 was the first time I realized I wasn’t the problem—I just learned differently. I eventually moved to trade school, where I finally gained the technical foundation I needed.

Restoration and Purpose

Life eventually took a difficult turn. I hit hard times, lost my equipment, and felt spiritually adrift while exploring “new age” philosophies. It was in that darkness that I was found and restored by Christ.

I decided to apply the same “tinker’s mindset” I had for tech to my faith. I dove deep into the Scriptures, even studying Hebrew and Greek to better understand and defend the faith through apologetics.

Where I Am Now

Today, my ecosystem is exclusively Linux. Through years of distro-hopping, I’ve gained a ground-level understanding of different environments, which eventually led me to Docker and the world of self-hosting.

This blog is where those worlds meet: the technical, the historical, and the theological. Welcome to my journey.