intentionality

Plan your work and then work your plan.

What did you dream about as a kid? Did you want to be a pro ball player? Maybe you imagined yourself as president of the United States. Perhaps you wanted to sing to a packed Carnegie Hall. Well, did it happen? Did you accomplish those dreams?

That’s not fair, though, is it? We all have lofty dreams as children. Let’s be more realistic. What did you dream about as a young adult? In your late teens and early twenties, as you were deciding who you wanted to be for the rest of your life, how did you picture it? Did you want to live in this city and work in that field? Maybe you imagined a family and close friends. Perhaps you pictured yourself starting a company. Well, did it happen? Did you accomplish those dreams?

How many of us actually see our dreams come true? How many people experience the fulfillment of their deepest hopes and desires? Why do we so often find ourselves struggling just to hold on? Do you ever collapse in bed at the end of the day, wondering what the whole point was? Did anything of value even happen? Why?

I don’t mean to oversimplify the complex matrix that is life, but allow me to share an observation. I have met and talked with hundreds of people who share similar frustrations. They have so many hopes, desires and passions within. They imagine themselves being and doing so many wonderful things. They have great vision, but very little motivation. They have fantastic dreams, but hardly any initiative. They know where they want to be, but have no idea how to get there. In short, they lack a very important core value: intentionality.

Intentionality is strategic. In a military sense it means having the broad, overall view and knowing which pieces fit where and why. It’s having a plan of who is going to do what and when. And it’s flexible, having a contingency plan just in case the first one doesn’t work out.

Intentionality is premeditated. In a court of law we usually hear this word as a negative—something like premeditated murder. That means the action had been thought through. It means knowing what you’re getting into, counting the cost, preparing yourself for the future.

Intentionality is purpose-driven. It’s not some haphazard, shoot-from-the-hip move. It’s not random and without reason. It makes decisions and moves because it’s after something specific. There is a goal, an objective, a target in mind.

Intentionality knows how to set priorities. There are some things that are more important than others. That may not sound “fair,” but it’s certainly true. Some feelings may get hurt. Some distractions may get ignored. We say “no” to a lot of good things because we’re waiting for and working toward the best things.

Intentionality is very serious about opportunity. Because God/life refuses to be scripted and boxed in, we remain alert for the unknown. We allow for the mysterious, out-of-the-blue moments to seize. Many of these, of course, are to be rejected as a distraction. But some…some only come once in a lifetime.

Intentionality always speaks of direction. Life is a journey, a process. And every life is pointed somewhere, heading toward something or someone. Sadly, some are pointed directly toward selfish gain, unnecessary suffering or “the American dream.” Others add beauty, luster and joy to what is already there.

Would the above terms describe my life? Am I an intentional person? Are you? Certainly we’re not going to see all of our life goals and personal dreams come to fruition in one fell swoop. But we can begin today. We can start right now. We can make up our minds to take the first step toward our deepest desires, highest hopes and wildest dreams. Holy Seed Community Church is a place of intentionality. We are going to pursue the things of God with reckless abandon. We know what He has called us to and now we’re chasing it. We’re going to plan our work and then work our plan.