Merriam-Webster says an aberration is something that strays from the “right or normal way.” It represents a departure from “the usual or natural type of behavior.”

That’s Mr. Webster's definition, not mine.

I chuckle when people use the word “normal” because what’s “normal” for one is often an “aberration” for another. And when you throw the word “right” into the mix you introduce the concept of morality.

Morality is always a fun topic, guaranteed to facilitate peaceful conversations.

Most of us experience occasional aberrations in our thoughts, behavior or in the practice of what we believe.

Sometimes we don’t think as we wish we would. Sometimes we don’t live like we long to. Sometimes we don’t love as fully as we aspire.

During those moments, when we depart from our ideals even slightly, we can become discouraged, feel hypocritical, and question the genuineness of our desire to become loving, noble, human beings.

That’s when the “cardinal rule” regarding intentions and aberrations comes in handy:

“Never judge anyone by their aberrations. View them on the basis of their consistent behavior.”

Maybe we promised ourselves we’d never indulge in an old habit again, that we’d never yield to a hated behavior, or that we’d never repeat a destructive relationship. Yet, despite our promises, we departed from our ideals and beliefs.

Do not let that aberration convince you that you “clearly” never wanted to to become a noble hearted person in the first place. It’s not true. But the temptation to feel that way can be pretty strong after yielding to aberrant behavior.

Apply the cardinal rule: Never judge yourself by your aberrations. Look deeper at your consistent living - and even more importantly at your intentions.

This can keep us from either making excuses for consistently being jerks or from grinding ourselves to powder when we occasionally act like one.

I have problems with some traditional quotations. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” is a prime example. I feel that’s a time honored bit of rubbish.

Intentions combined with actions are what matter most. We may fall short of knowing exactly what to do but we can still live at peace with ourselves when we’re certain of our intentions.

Heywood Broun said, “Hell is paved with great granite blocks hewn from the hearts of those who said, ‘I can do no other.’”  I think that’s a far better illustration when it comes to examining the intentions of the heart.

Intentions are proven by actions. Anyone who tells us otherwise is lying and enabling us to remain nincompoops.

On the other hand, if our intent is to become loving, compassionate human beings then we should never allow a brief departure in thought or deed tempt us to believe otherwise.

We live in a time when we hear loud professions of morality and religious values. It becomes easier to discern the true from the false based on consistent behavior.

No matter how loudly someone says they believe in good or God, if their track record is marked by greed, deceit, cruelty, and violence there’s a good chance their intentions are not governed by what they say they believe.

Our actual beliefs are our compass. Our intentions and desires are the rudder on our ship. Our aberrations are those times when the storms blow and briefly take us off course.

Our actions will always snap back to following our intentions and desires.

In the end two things hold true. We cannot talk anyone into being a genuinely good person. Nor can we talk anyone out of it. Those are realities that allow intentions and aberrations to be most clearly defined.