Being Intentional

As you all know by now (if you’ve been following along CMC), I have horrible memory. I’m slowly changing my life habits to help me gain a better memory; healthier eating being one way and so many other ways too. One main way though became important to me when I ate lunch with Josh’s family after church one day. We had only given our drink orders, not even received them yet and  it was a pretty big party already but we were wanting to add more. Josh’s uncle went to tell the waiter and used the waiter’s name. This was such a shock to me because for some unknown reason I have never remembered a waiter/waitresses name before, and if fact anyone’s name after the first time meeting them. I guess my nerves of a first interaction and forcing my self to remember to make eye contact trumped ever really listening to them, which is something I’m not proud of but glad he helped me realize this. Now I’ve been trying to be more intentional when meeting someone and I’ve found that the easiest way I can remember a name is to relate it to something else about them.

This got me thinking the other day, and I wondered what would happen If I were more intentional with everything, not just when meeting someone. With this school year just starting, I’ve decided to apply it to school. School is very broad, so to be intentional means many things and can be done in many ways.

This semester is the official start of my program (entrepreneurship) & what seems like an amazing time for me to try something new. With Monday being my first day back, and only one class, it felt like a good idea to write this blog. Maybe this will help someone else out, and if not it will at least help me when I read it again over the course of the next few weeks. 

Being on time, not zoning out, remembering names (their startup ideas as the one thing I’ll relate to, to help me out), effective notes, and doing homework the day assigned will help me be conscious in all I do, intentional in the relationships I create, and get the most out of the education I’m paying for. 

The verse I wrote down in my planner is also a great one to memorize to help me be present in all that I do to gain some of God’s wisdom and ultimately do what He wants. Here’s the verse since it may be a little hard to read my handwriting:

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Ephesians 5:15-17

I feel like this should be an extremely famous verse. I dug deep to find a verse that truly spoke to me about living intentionally, when I came across this one it spoke to me so clearly. If everyone were to be careful in the way they live, not foolish, look up to the wise, make the most of everything, don’t act thoughtlessly (which is such an important part!!) and sought for understanding the Lord…. man this world would be great!!!

Even though that’s wishful thinking and the whole world may not get there anytime soon, YOU can work to get there now! 

With us walking into the end of the week and the start of a long weekend, I challenge you to not act thoughtlessly, and I feel the rest will fall into place. Live with purpose and act with intention. Who knows, maybe calling your waiter/waitress by their name instead of awkwardly waving your hand will put a much needed smile on their face by feeling acknowledged and loved.