I was doing a Bible study not too long ago and the question was asked: "As a child, what were your feelings when you were in the presence of your sisters? Brothers?" Well, ignored was the answer for the sisters, but for the brothers portion my immediate response was PAIN! It seemed it was my brothers’ sole intent to torture me. There was the Indian rope burn and Chinese water torture, elbow jabbing, wet willies, knuckle haircuts and a myriad of other such imaginative teasing. Of course my one defense was tattling. And I must admit I was very good at it. It went something like this:
Me: Mom, Bobby pulled my hair and Kenny laughed at me!
Bobby: Did not! She’s just a baby! Besides, it was an accident!
Me: Huh uh! He did it on PURPOSE!
There was an art in convincing the judge, my mother, that the personal assault on my hair was a first-degree offence. If it were so deemed a first-degree offense, on purpose, then my brother’s would be sentenced to their rooms for an hour or possibly sent to sweep the driveway. And I, smug in my victory, would receive my mother’s solid whap on my backside as I made an ugly face at their retreating backs!
At that tender age, I doubt I had a true understanding of the term "on purpose," or with intent.
Intent or intention: An aim that guides action; an objective; simply signifies a course of action that one proposes to follow: what one plans to do or achieve; implies deliberateness: idea of resolution or determination: an idealistic or long-term purpose; often implies that the end or goal can be reached.
The new buzz word it seems is "intentional." I'm seeing it in Bible studies, self-help books, radio broadcasts and TV talk shows. I wonder if Someone is trying to tell me something. I do have that way of living everyday life with the shotgun method. This method usually consists of trying to make a small dent in everything that crosses my path. Needless to say, it is a very inefficient way of living! So, for the next few weeks, I'm going to try to be more intentsional about the way I do housework, diet, work, and most of all, live for Christ. This may consist of lists (haven't decided yet), a daily planner, keeping my cell phone charged and my Through the Bible in a Year Bible handy.
I'd love to hear how all of you (all 3 of my readers) do things intentionally. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from each other...on purpose!
