Intend Love

My dad used to tell me that sin was based on intention. If you knowingly do something against God or God's will, it's a sin. I tell my kids that there are no bad words, just some ugly words that are made uglier by bad intentions. What is intention? Intention is a noun that means aim or plan. To intend then is to have (a course of action) as one's purpose or objective; plan. Planning takes forethought. I come from a long line of Barrons who have problems making plans, so I know that planning can take some work. I think it also comes from the idea that if you don't make plans, you can't have plans that fall through.

But forethought and planning have a lot to do with Love. As sin is done with ill-intention, Love is done by good and honorable intention. You have to intend to do, show and feel Love. I find myself so self-involved some days that I am surprised by the presence of people around me, all of the sudden, when they have been there all the time.You have to be awake and be present.

If you want to be loved, you have to intend to receive Love. Or to have the reception of Love as your purpose or objective in your life. We oftentimes go through our world wanting to be loved but never intending to receive it. As men we are taught through our peers that we should not show emotion and to be independent. But Love is both emotional and dependent, so you miss out on a lot of Love with this ingrained in your being. The reception of Love could not be easier - you don't have to do anything. But we fight it and erect walls to block it out. Every day I have the choice of letting others in or out of the elevator first or allowing them to hold the door for me. There are a lot of people who do not like you to let them through first. It feels remarkably good to receive that small act of kindness. But you have to give yourself over to it.

Plan to Love. Intend to give and receive Love. Everyone in your way is an opportunity to experience Love. Sometimes when I am in line behind the slowest person in the grocery store, I give a silent "thank you" for the opportunity to practice patience. You could take this a step further and intend to show them some Love. You could look for a way to help. You could smile at them and make the feel better. They might be feeling embarrassed that they have to pull out their checkbook and coupons. Do something. Intend to make things better.