Driving through my neighborhood this past fall, the brilliance of the trees' colors caught my attention. I noticed that the really colorful reds, oranges and yellows seemed to be evenly dispersed throughout. I didn't see any of the same color together. My neighborhood is over 40 years old so I began to wonder if the original developers did that intentionally when they planned the landscaping. Did they consider what the neighborhood would look like in the fall 40 years later?
To do something with intent means to do it with "purpose; to set something up as an end to be attained." In Latin the word intent means "the art of stretching out." So living intentionally means that I am living with the end in mind. I am stretching out my thinking to include more than just the present.
Animals do this instinctively all the time. Squirrels spend the fall gathering nuts to get ready for winter. Some breeds of dogs grow a heavier coat to prepare for colder weather. Many birds fly south for the winter. Some will fatten up in anticipation of limited food. The animal kingdom doesn't have to be told to do these things. They know what the future will be like and prepare for it. It is intentional.
So what does the Bible have to say about living intentionally?
"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
It looks like Paul wants us to understand that as Christians we are not called to be passive. We are to "make the most of every opportunity." Grace Esedeke puts it this way, "Being intentional is knowing why you do something, making a decision to do it and planning on how to get it done."
In Suzy Welch's book, "10-10-10", she suggests that all decisions we make should be based on these three questions: What are the consequences of my decision in 10 minutes? In 10 months? In 10 years? In most instances, the long term consequence wins as you realize that short term consequences don't make the impact that long term ones do.
Living with the end in mind.
If we add eternity to Suzy's 10-10-10 concept, we begin to see what the Bible is talking about. Are the things I think are important right now still be important 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years from now? How will the decisions I make today affect eternity; for me, those I love and those I come in contact with? Am I living with eternity in mind?
Definitely things to think about.
