Intentions
23 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: actions, attitude, becoming, challenges, changing, choices, direction, faith, following God, hope, intentions, life, plans, purpose, sharing
I have good intentions. Most of us do I think. We intend to live our lives well. We intend to be good parents, good spouses, good children, good employees, good christians. We might intend to change the world for the better. Coming up with a cure for cancer, being a activist in a fight for freedom of a variety of things that we believe in. We intend to eat healthier, work out more, be responsible, or perhaps we intend to become rich, successful, popular,loved, admired, respected, or discovered. Whatever our intentions are, there is something that is glaringly clear at times. Our intentions do NOT make it so. I still have over 50 pounds to lose. Despite having the intention to do so for ——–oh about 15 years now. Except maybe truthfully it is more like 70 pounds now. I still have not been discovered as a writer, or actress; despite the intention that one day my passion will help me change the world. I have not seen lots of my dreams and aspirations come to fruition. Those around me still struggle with jobs, and health, and finances, and family, and friends, and spiritual, emotional, economical, physical, and mental challenges. I know people that intend to get jobs, move, lose weight, get sober, get hired, get married, or have children. These things have not happened. Does that mean that they won’t ever happen? maybe, maybe not.
The fact that we are intentional doesn’t really change our circumstances unless we really DO something with them. I joined a gym….I really DID something. however if I only go once or twice a week at most, is it the gyms fault my intentions have not made the real difference in my body that I was hoping I would get? No one to blame but me.
I intend to make better choices in my daily life. If I dont pray more, or spend more time with God, or take the time to invest in the lives of others then whose fault is it that I am feeling like my relationships are not what they could be. Including my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I believe that we suffer from a syndrome of believing that because we intend to do things better, then life should be better. If we intend to be a great spouse, or parent, or employee, or healthier, or successful then why is it that we aren’t? Why is it that wanting something so bad that it hurts, doesn’t make it so? Why is it that being positive that things are going to turn around for us does not change what is really going on? Why can’t we just sit on the couch with the remote in our hand, and pump our fist in the air and shout about how we intend to have this great life and still nothing happens any different?
Because intentions are not reality, they are not actions, they are not relational, they are not what makes us better, or healthier, or happy, or employed, or a world changer. WE can all sit and talk and rationalize all day long about how we wish things would be different in our lives. our intentions may be a jump start, but if we dont MAKE choices, and ACT on them, if we dont DO something to PARTICIPATE in those changes happening, if we just PLAN and leave it to chance then all the INTENTIONS in the world aren’t going to bring about the changes we hope for.
Now , there are some things that we can’t control. I will give you that. However, that is not a excuse not to step up and do the things that we CAN do to change our intentions in actions. May the desires of MY heart be exactly what God is challenging me to go out and work on in myself,;and may my intentions be backed by ACTIONS to not only better the person that God has created me to be, but also to show others that one person, one compassionate, loving, caring, giving, sharing individual CAN change the world for the better.
I have great intentions. My challenge is to have great follow through! how about you?
