Intent

"Learning is developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes through study, experience, or instruction. It is a never-ending progression that includes understanding why something is important—the intent of learning." - MCDP-7 Learning

 Knowing that something is important is not as important as knowing why it is important. Simply knowing the fact is a foundation without the concrete, a defense without depth, a frontal assault with no use of combined arms, an infantry platoon with no logistical support. It will not last, it will not withstand repeated assaults, and make no mistake we live in the midst of an enemy that will never rest his attempt to win a war of attrition, and weightless facts will not hold the line. Knowing why you shoot the rifle allows you to orient on the correct target and is much more important than the simple ability to hit the target.

Too often we stop at the realization of a priority or of knowledge but fail to understand why it is a priority or what we can do with said knowledge. The intent of learning is similar to the commander's intent. If the plan goes awry, and as it is the first casualty of war it always does, you rely on the intent to accomplish the mission through decentralized violent decisions. If you are wrong, your world will not be shattered because you understand why you are learning in the first place, to what end you seek knowledge.

"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." Romans 12: 2