Good Intentions



Pastors Cory & Richelle Smithee

Alexander, a U.S. aviator and engineer, was once visiting a fellow flyer in the hospital with the good intentions of cheering him up. The young man had just lost his leg; Alexander, who had an artificial leg too for some time said to the young man, "The loss of leg is not so great a calamity," "If you get hit on a wooden leg, it doesn't hurt a bit!" With that Alexander said "Go ahead hit my Leg!" The young man raised his walking stick and brought it down hard on Alexander's leg. "You see," he said cheerfully, "if you hit an ordinary man like that, he'd be in bed for a week!" With that he left and walked outside into the corridor and collapsed in excruciating pain.  It seems the young man struck the wrong leg.

Do you relate to this story? How many times have you had good intentions, only to have them crash and burn.  But the positive side is you tried.  However, in this blog I want to talk about the other side, Good Intentions that never happen.  This is one of the most frustrating issues in life... Good Intentions that never happen!

When I was in the corporate world there was a story that went something like this; Have you ever met Mr. Meant-To? Mr. Meant-To has a buddy, and his name is Didn't-Do. Have you ever had the chance to meet them? Did they ever call on you? These two fellows live together in the same house of Never-Win. I am told that it is haunted by the ghost of Might-Have-Been.

A person, company, church just cannot build a reputation of success on what it's going to do.  It takes action to see a dream or vision to end up somewhere on purpose. It takes action to turn good intentions into reality. Successful endeavors require action!  Here's some questions you need to ask yourself the next time you have a thought of a good intention; 1) What specific, measurable action will it take for me to complete this good intention. 2) How much time, effort, and money will it take?

Stop talking and start forming a vision of really doing it and completing it. One phrase has not changed, "Talk Is Cheap," "Action Cost Something."  No good intention has ever been achieved except by someone who dared to make the dream a reality.

 Habakkuk 2:2 says, "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."  If you are having issues with talk, talk, talk and no action, then let me give you a simple way to stop talking and start doing:

1. You will have to write it down, that is to declare it on paper
2. You have to make it plain and simple
3. You have to have the courage to make a copy for someone to hold you accountable

Unless we do it this way, it will only remain a "Good Intention," a "Fantasy," a "Talk To make Us look Good."  Regardless the cost, stop talking and start doing.... just saying!

Pastor Cory