Good writing is precise, concrete, specific. Normally, I try to write about real people and actual events. Sometimes, however, I can't really write about everything I'd like to. The nature of my life, especially these days, calls for some restraint.
What I'm trying to say is that today's blog will be a little different - not very specific, not tied to too many details, not anchored to some story from my life - but still attempting to grapple with something important and vital.
Please bear with me; I'm not sure I can pull this off. But I'm going to try.
Let's start with this crucial truth: our behavior matters. I know - that is painfully obvious. Still, it's amazing how often we miss it. Our behavior matters. What we do affects other people. Our attitudes matter. Even what we think has an impact on other people.
And sometimes that impact is negative. What we do might hurt others or do them damage. Normally, we don't mean for that to happen. At least, I hope we don't. Even without meaning harm, however, it can happen. And the result, we might say, is an unintended consequence. An unintended consequence.
And this is where it gets really interesting. And this is the point of this unusual blog. Once we become aware of an unintended consequence and we choose to continue with whatever behavior causes it . . . that consequence is no longer unintended! In fact, once we become aware of what our behavior is doing . . . the consequence that it causes is completely intended.
Think about it. Unintended consequences are one thing. But intended consequences - results that stem from behaviors that we know cause harm to others - are something altogether different.
Yes, I know it's tough to follow this without specific examples. But I can't really share the details that I'm thinking about right now.
What I do know is this: I suspect that there's plenty of easy forgiveness to be found for all the unintended consequences that follow our choices and behaviors.
But I'm not sure that being forgiven for the intended consequences will be quite so easy.
When we try to inflict harm on purpose, I think we're dealing with something sinister. And, frankly, something that God cares deeply about.
I promise to tell a good story in tomorrow's blog. For today, however, I needed to share what was on my heart . . . even though I didn't have a good story to go with it.
I know you didn't really ask for it, but here's some good advice. We need to be very careful with our behavior. What we do really does affect other people.
And sometimes that impact is negative. What we do might hurt others or do them damage. Normally, we don't mean for that to happen. At least, I hope we don't. Even without meaning harm, however, it can happen. And the result, we might say, is an unintended consequence. An unintended consequence.
And this is where it gets really interesting. And this is the point of this unusual blog. Once we become aware of an unintended consequence and we choose to continue with whatever behavior causes it . . . that consequence is no longer unintended! In fact, once we become aware of what our behavior is doing . . . the consequence that it causes is completely intended.
Think about it. Unintended consequences are one thing. But intended consequences - results that stem from behaviors that we know cause harm to others - are something altogether different.
Yes, I know it's tough to follow this without specific examples. But I can't really share the details that I'm thinking about right now.
What I do know is this: I suspect that there's plenty of easy forgiveness to be found for all the unintended consequences that follow our choices and behaviors.
But I'm not sure that being forgiven for the intended consequences will be quite so easy.
When we try to inflict harm on purpose, I think we're dealing with something sinister. And, frankly, something that God cares deeply about.
I promise to tell a good story in tomorrow's blog. For today, however, I needed to share what was on my heart . . . even though I didn't have a good story to go with it.
I know you didn't really ask for it, but here's some good advice. We need to be very careful with our behavior. What we do really does affect other people.