Good Intentions

"But, young friend, there is a difference, and more than a slight one, between
intentions and accomplishments. We do not always perform what we think we shall,
nor do we always reach where we hope to arrive. Failures are as numerous as
successes, and even the most successful have failures to mourn over. Good intentions
are not so rare that you may begin to crow about them; there is a road which is paved
with them, but I would not have you travel it." -Charles Haddon

"I'm not afraid things won't get better
But it feels like this has gone on forever
You have to cry with your own blue tears
Have to laugh with your own good cheer" -
 
I had a good conversation with a friend several years in regards to the topic of intentionality. Some of the discussion was bent on the fact that the word itself is vague towards it's understanding, the other regarding  the fact it's application in a church context can be even more perplexing. So what does it mean to be intentional? Merriam-Webster would explain it as "Being done with intention or on purpose; intended; of or pertaining to intention or purpose; pertaining to the capacity of the mind to refer to an existent or nonexistent object; pointing beyond itself, as consciousness or a sign."

Intentionality in a christian context can be a wonderfully powerful and transformation experience. In Romans Paul challenges new believers to re-consider their righteous indignation and transform that into a context of love.

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Paul never tried to fundamentally change how those believers felt, what his attempt was was to condition their response. He understood their intentions were based in justice not malice, yet the exercise of those intentions would be difficult to reconcile as an act of good faith. Rather, without the context of justice that the Romans operated under, an outsiders perspective would render and actions taken with violence and retribution with cowardice and disdain.

And so it so often is with intentions.