Good intentions

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Good Intentions
It wasn't that long ago, that Ronald Reagan, a former President of the U.S. finally succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. And whether he was a political hero or villain to you, you have to admit that he was a masterful communicator. His death reminded me of a story he once told before the National Association of Towns and Townships. Mr. Reagan was lamenting his government's inability to solve all the problems of the American nation - and even more the expectation of so many that the government could solve all those problems. This was his set-up and story . . . "Well-intentioned individuals thought if they were only given the power they could right every wrong. As I said, they were all well-intentioned, but there's a well-known road paved with good intentions. No one likes to go where it takes you." Mr. Reagan then went on to say . . . "There's a story about a young fellow riding a motorcycle. He had good intentions too. The wind was kind of chilly and coming through the buttonholes on his jacket, and so he got this idea. He stopped and put his jacket on back to front and that eliminated the chill factor through the buttonholes, but it kind of restricted his arm movement. He hadn't gone far down the road, when his motorcycle hit a patch of ice and he skidded into a tree. When the police arrived on the scene, a crowd had gathered. So they elbowed their way through and they asked, "What happened?" One of the spectators said, "Well, we don't know. When we got here he seemed to be all right, but by the time we got his head turned around straight, he was dead." Mr. Reagan concluded his story by saying . . . "I think that has a tie-in with some of the things the government does." That story got howling laughter from his audience back in 1983. But the issue of good intentions gone awry is perpetually relevant. So Mr. Reagan's story also fits some of your personal and family decisions. It probably describes some company policies you recall - or with which you are wrestling. It certainly applies to some of the decisions and programs and appointments in governments and churches. And when there has been a disaster in spite of your good intentions, you can only hope there has not been too many fatalities! However, you do have to be courageous enough to name the decision or action for what it turned out to be - mistaken, damaging, just plain wrong. Having named it, apologize. Ask forgiveness. And ask for God's help in putting things right again. Friends, good intentions don't cancel out bad decisions or fatal outcomes. We are still accountable for them and can only pray for wisdom to do the right thing now. One final thought: While it's true that we all make mistakes, some mistakes are more public than others. How do you handle those mistakes that everyone knows about? Well, if you are experiencing difficulty in this area, I encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a booklet titled "When You Can't Hide Your Mistakes." I'd be pleased to send this to you by return mail. My postal address is: P.O. 1540, Albany WA 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Good Intentions

It wasn't that long ago, that Ronald Reagan, a former President of the U.S. finally succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. And whether he was a political hero or villain to you, you have to admit that he was a masterful communicator. His death reminded me of a story he once told before the National Association of Towns and Townships.

Mr. Reagan was lamenting his government's inability to solve all the problems of the American nation - and even more the expectation of so many that the government could solve all those problems. This was his set-up and story . . .

"Well-intentioned individuals thought if they were only given the power they could right every wrong. As I said, they were all well-intentioned, but there's a well-known road paved with good intentions. No one likes to go where it takes you." Mr. Reagan then went on to say . . .

"There's a story about a young fellow riding a motorcycle. He had good intentions too. The wind was kind of chilly and coming through the buttonholes on his jacket, and so he got this idea. He stopped and put his jacket on back to front and that eliminated the chill factor through the buttonholes, but it kind of restricted his arm movement. He hadn't gone far down the road, when his motorcycle hit a patch of ice and he skidded into a tree. When the police arrived on the scene, a crowd had gathered. So they elbowed their way through and they asked, "What happened?" One of the spectators said, "Well, we don't know. When we got here he seemed to be all right, but by the time we got his head turned around straight, he was dead."

Mr. Reagan concluded his story by saying . . . "I think that has a tie-in with some of the things the government does."

That story got howling laughter from his audience back in 1983. But the issue of good intentions gone awry is perpetually relevant. So Mr. Reagan's story also fits some of your personal and family decisions. It probably describes some company policies you recall - or with which you are wrestling. It certainly applies to some of the decisions and programs and appointments in governments and churches.

And when there has been a disaster in spite of your good intentions, you can only hope there has not been too many fatalities! However, you do have to be courageous enough to name the decision or action for what it turned out to be - mistaken, damaging, just plain wrong. Having named it, apologize. Ask forgiveness. And ask for God's help in putting things right again.

Friends, good intentions don't cancel out bad decisions or fatal outcomes. We are still accountable for them and can only pray for wisdom to do the right thing now.

One final thought: While it's true that we all make mistakes, some mistakes are more public than others. How do you handle those mistakes that everyone knows about? Well, if you are experiencing difficulty in this area, I encourage you to write to me for a FREE copy of a booklet titled "When You Can't Hide Your Mistakes." I'd be pleased to send this to you by return mail. My postal address is: P.O. 1540, Albany WA 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au