The meanings of the words intentions and expectations are neighbors, yet the nuance is considerable. I considered them this week, teasing apart the implications. The first one entails an energy that pours outward, toward the person I care about. I have intentions that my children will find good partners, and meaningful work. My commitment to mothering them was driven by that hope. My children and husband are not set up to disappoint me, because the locus for good will resides with me. 

 

Expectations involve a different stream of influence. The direction points to myself, as I strive to manipulate circumstances to my liking. People around me are players in the effort to fulfill my wishes, even if they are benevolent. Which of course they are. 

 

Well. Maybe not always. 

 

A story from the Bible that fits is when King Nebuchadnezzar demands that his wise men interpret the meaning of his dream. There will be heaps of rewards to anyone who does, and lethal results for those who fail. But the catch is, he refuses to describe the events of that dream. In other words they are expected to read his mind. 

 

No reasonable person would do such a thing. Right? Put the people we love in a position of fulfilling our unspoken requests, with the threat of dire treatment if they fail?

 

When I pin such concepts on God's breast, I notice that expectations are not a good fit. Omniscience suggests that He already knows the future, and cannot get sucked into trying to crowbar His will.

 

Intentions, on the other hand, are His signature quality. God wants more than anything to give us happiness, and to be close to us for eternity. Not for His sake, but for ours.