Inspiration & Intention Can Be Friends
One of the books that we regularly read and re-read is called “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. This tiny nugget of goodness could be read in an afternoon – but it is much better when you savor, ponder, and contemplate the challenge that lives within its pages.
Pressfield eloquently paints the tension that lives within anyone that has ever set out to reach a goal, chart an undiscovered territory, write a new song, lead a new ministry, write a thoughtful blog post, or in our case launch a new church. That tension is good old-fashioned Resistance.
Early on in the book Pressfield says, “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands resistance.”
I (Jeanne) believe that on either side of resistance stands Inspiration & Intention. Most of the time they are billed as archenemies – ready to meet in a dark alley to prove which is stronger (ala MJ’s Thriller)… the Director or the Free Spirit. Those with intention are the ones that make a plan, stick to the plan, and never sway from the plan. Those with inspiration are able to live in the moment, savor experiences, and bounce through life with spontaneity.
Jesus took the moments right in front of him to be both Intentional and Inspiring.
- // A little boys lunch on a hillside inspired him to feed a multitude as well as intentionally communicate that he was the Son of God and capable of miracles.
- // A boat filled with doubting disciples and a raging storm was the perfect backdrop to inspire Peter to jump out into the water without a life preserver. It was also an intentional moment for Peter to be reminded that without keeping his eyes locked on his Savior he could not swim with only inspiration.
- // A mourning Martha & Mary wondered if Jesus would do anything after the death of their brother Lazarus – and Jesus intentionally waited and grieved to reveal his humanity and then invited Lazarus to come out of his tomb – inspiring all those around him that he was capable of taking that which was dead and giving it new life.
Inspiration & Intention must learn how to be friends if we are ever going to push though the resistance that exists to hold us back.
