Reality and our Best Intentions

Before I begin, I must warn you that these thoughts are quite rough. I haven't really even given them a quick proofread. Just one of those times that you find yourself writing before you even meant to.

What is your intent? This question, I’m beginning to believe, could contain an array of answers for many of life’s quandaries and disappointments. It’s a question that I’d like to begin asking myself each morning as I fling the covers off myself. We have certain pictures of ourselves and roles that we believe we should be filling. We have purposes, we have dreams, we have goals...but we also have a sense of “reality.” Reality has come to be thought of as that thing that dashes our hopes, that pummels our self-image, that defaces our property and leaves us shaking our heads in confusion. How frivolous we were to have pinned our hopes on something. How futile is our striving our excellence. How hopeless it is to hope.

Others may look on with mock pity. They shake their heads too, but they say among themselves, “Well, it’s about time he got his head out of clouds and faced reality.”

I propose that we take another look at “reality.” Reality is the understanding that today has twenty-four hours in it and that I can use that time as I choose. Reality is the ability to choose virtue rather than vice. Reality is the promise that even though I’ll screw something up today, tomorrow is still going to happen. Reality tells me that if I set the standard high for myself, I’ll reach a lot farther than I would have if I had set it low.

This is why I ask what our intentions are. Do I intend to make the best of the job, to continue in my studies, to be more Christ-like today than I was yesterday, or to have even a Christ-like attitude during my daily events? Sadly, I usually don’t. The ideas sound nice to me, but I’ve got to face “reality.” If I can begin to see “reality” as those higher, more noble intentions, chances are I’ll get there much faster. Next time you see me, ask me what my intentions are. I’ll ask you the same.