There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Former President Ronald Reagan has finally succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. 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.

He was lamenting government's inability to solve all the problems of our nation –- and even more the expectation of so many that 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 well-intentioned, but there's a well- known road paved with good intentions. No one likes to go where it takes you.

"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 backward and that eliminated the chill factor through the buttonholes, but it kind of restricted his arm movement. And down the road, his motorcycle hit a patch of ice. He skidded into a tree. When the police got there, a crowd had gathered. And they elbowed their way through and they said, "What happened?" And one of them 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.

"I think that has a tie-in with some of the things the government does."

You can only hope there have not been too many fatalities!

The story got howling laughter from his audience back in 1983. But the issue of good intentions gone awry is perpetually relevant. So his story 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 churches.

When there has been a wreck in spite of your good intentions, you can only hope there have not been too many fatalities! But 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.

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.

 

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© 2004 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of the "FAX of Life."

Title: "The Gipper on Good Intentions"
Author: Rubel Shelly
Publication Date: July 10, 2004

The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry by Henri Nouwen The modern classic that interweaves the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fourth and fifth century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality.

Rubel Shelly preached for the Woodmont Hills Churchin Nashville for thirty years. He is the author of more than 20 books. He has accepted the position of President of Rochester College. For more details, click here or here to email.

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