Yesterday, our pastor gave a message about intentionally living. It's interesting, from time to time, he'll say something like, "If you're listening to me and thinking about someone in your life that 'should be hearing this message', then stop. Stop thinking about everyone else and what they need to do and think about yourself and what you need to do."
He mentions pretty early that his message is about intentional living so immediately what do I think about? How I hope Adam is listening.
It's so easy to point out flaws in others than our own.
Pretty quickly, though, I realize what I'm doing and redirect my focus. The truth is, we all need the nudge to live intentional lives. We are by nature selfish people. Some are more selfish than others, but we all have it. The desire to meet our own needs. The desire to do what we want. The desire to put our own goals, dreams and ideas ahead of others.
Now, I know I'm a daddy's girl. I have always gravitated toward him. But my dad is one wise man. I am sure I have somewhat rose colored glasses, but I think my dad is one of the better selfless livers. (He's not a liver, but one who lives. - this will be a post with made up words and I'm Ok with it.)
I may have said this before, but I love the advice he gave me before my wedding,
"If you're doing everything you can for your spouse. And he's doing everything he can for you. It can't go wrong."There. He spelled it out for me... be selfless. But the message this week wasn't about selfless living. It was about intentional living. I think; however, the two go hand in hand. I think about a coffee date with a friend, acquaintance or stranger. If you're thinking about what you have to do after the meeting, you're probably not going to be very intentional. But if you're doing everything you can for the other person, I bet you'll be pretty intentional about their needs.
I think we all can grow in this regards. How often are we in relationships or conversations when we are rushing to finish so we can get onto what we want or need to do? Haven't we heard enough people who are faced with life threatening illnesses say they just wish they would have spent more time with the people and on the things in life that matter most?
So it is with that challenge I head into 2013. I am hoping to be more intentional about my faith and relationship with God. I am hoping to have more intentional relationships with my husband, my parents, my sister & her husband, my in-laws, and my best friends.
The truth is, we cannot do it all. So what are we going to spend our time, love and energy on? The things that matter? Or the things that don't?
