I have been struggling with this thought for a very long time, and I still don't know how to put into words properly. This is my best attempt at 'meaningless' thought process. Our society looks to judge on actions rather than intentions (outside of criminal cases). Christ looks on the intentions of our hearts. I wish to look at the perceptions we have of ourselves. We might do something like help a friend in time of personal crisis, give advice on life in general, or introduce someone to the gospel (as gently as you can). I have only the best intentions for these actions, but how do i perceive these actions looking back?
Maybe your comfort didn't change anything that you'd hoped for, your advice was taken in a wrong way, or your gospel 'lessons' didn't take hold and are forgotten almost instantly. I might then perceive my personal actions as being misguided and unimportant.
My next thought is very difficult to even manifest in my own mind, but i guess it has to come out in some form. I will likely contradict myself several times, but isn't that my intent for this lesson to properly take hold? Lets say we take these actions and shape a person from them. Do we shape them from the actions themselves, their intentions, or their own perceptions of past decisions that didn't pan out? By now I really hope that you're starting to catch on to my train of thought (because I've lost it a little at this point). Is this person shaped by the perceptions of others, themselves, or the perceptions the individual has of how society perceives them? My belief is that there is some pure mixture of the three included with the original intentions of their heart. Because regardless of perception there was an original intention, and some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions (bad movie, good quote).
No, there is no impact from this entire thought process. I got tired of writing it, so it is staying right where it stands. Why did I write it? I wanted to see how well I could put something like this into words. I believe I've failed miserably, because I could only get about halfway through (the rest of my thoughts actually to a great conclusion and impact, but I don't think I'll share that with you). Figure out the rest for yourself, I'm sure you are really smart. ;)
I like it it, sounds like something i would write, although the point about the perceptions of others perceptions was interesting. I still disagree with however that the original intentions matter, because with the exception of morality (and possibly not even that) are not dependent on how we felt when we were doing it.
ReplyDeleteso what are they dependent on?
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