Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Passion

What are you passionate about?

I don't think I mean to be asking about your political leanings, favorite causes, or even a soulmate, but what is it in your life that completely undoes you.

My friend, Matt Hill, is absolutely passionate about music. He loves to create music, he loves to help others create music. His passion sometimes overloads him and he can barely function because he wants to achieve such a high level of excellence and finds that things hold him back. It is a huge joy to work with him, but at the same time because of the depth of his passion, sometimes it gets a little freaky. Very few can match that depth and he so desperately wants everyone to be there with him.

His wife, Jen is over the top passionate about worship. Her desire to bring others into the presence of God has caused her enormous pain in the past, but that hasn't deterred her. Amy is passionate about her kids and family. She has consciously made choices to be the very best mom and wife that she can be. Cody has a passion for bringing people into the church and taking the church to people. You can tell by the way that he is setting his career forward. Carol is passionate about encouraging growth in young kids and has focused on building that career for a long time.

One of the things that I have treasured in my life is the amount of passion that I can find within myself for so many different things. Long ago, I learned that I wanted to know a lot about a lot of things, but not necessarily everything about one thing.

I can't imagine living a life of 'quiet desperation,' being unable to express yourself with everything available. Those who work in stressful jobs and find that they are living one day to the next with no end in sight haven't found their passion.

I've been thinking a lot lately about where we look for that, how we find it and how we bring it out. Huh. I think the first thing we have to do is release the idea that we have to be able to make money by implementing our passion. If that is a side effect of it, then we win, but it can't be a driving goal or we lose sight of the passion and begin focusing on the end goal.

There are so many things I am passionate about ... Scripture, teaching, writing (notice how easily these can all fall together), people, telling people about the Love of Christ and what He did for them, encouraging people,. These are the things I want to invest my time in and bring to the forefront of my life ... what about you?

10 comments:

Amy Purintun said...

I love this post - so many passions so little time. EXACTLY!! And, you don't have to be making money with your passion, either. RIGHT-O! (like my passion for chocolate...) *grins*

Diane Muir said...

Passion or addiction? (hehe)

Cayla said...

Oh my goodness. You have no idea how much I needed to read/hear this kind of thing. So timely at the end of my college career... Thank you for such seasoned words and wisdom!! You are wonderful!
I am passionate about spending time with and valuing people! INCLUDING YOU! :)

Diane Muir said...

Cayla, you HAVE to let me know when you get to town ...

Dianna Schnabel said...

I have finally started pursuing my 'passion' of writing. I got kind of a late start because I thought a stable/paying job was more important. On the plus side, my experiences have led me to encourage my kids to pursue their passions, no matter how silly they may seem.

Diane Muir said...

Your kids are going to love that! Good for you.

Rebecca said...

Gonna sound silly but I am passionate about Dr. Seuss... always have been. I love the way a Seuss book makes you smile even when your older, the sing songy way it rhymes, the nonsensical words, the colors. I have written a few and they have been sitting as pages because I have been waiting patiently for an illustrator to come along... this week I finally gave up and have started to attempt illustrating my first book and I am loooooving the experience. this is just one passion there are a million others.. sometimes too many... but I love your passion for writing it always touches me in some way!! xoxoxo

Diane Muir said...

Good heavens, girlfriend, I can't wait to see what you do! Your passions lie all over the place ... but, while you say Dr. Suess, I say that it is bringing people to God's Word.

Have fun!

Rebecca said...

hehe... you are correct I do love that also I go back and forth. God and His Word is an intense obsession, one that is fulfilling but also exhausting ( I mean that in a good way I think you get that part) Dr. Seuss is my break from that.. cotton candy for the brain hehehe. Maybe I could merge the two? that would make for an interesting story eh?

daysease said...

I hope you do not mind... I have recently been learning a lot about passion in my personal life... I am especially saddened by the lack of passion in the church, by the way. i have learned in my own life that the verse in Colossians is true, that "whatever I do I must do as unto the Lord and not to man..." that means washing floors in my home or elsewhere, taking care of my kids, planting flowers, using talents and gifts, etc... There are so many possiblities. but whatever it is, we must remember that without God at the head of any activity, job, purpose, it is just an activity, job, purpose void of the full-FILLING. I have also been a person that knew alot about a lot of different things but never really specialized in any one thing... it caused a lot of turmoil and insecurity actually, but... the Lord showed me something new about myself that i did not know. last year, I was put on the "back burner" as far as another talent I have. I felt useless and discouraged, and I asked the Lord over and over, "what am I missing? why won't you use me anyomore?" The waiting time has proven to be quite a fruitful time. at that time I came across a craft site where the girl was passionate about each activity she did. She drew me into one of them, she did a papercut skyline that I loved. i went in search of more information and found other works and artists who amazed me. I gave it a try, found it to be enjoyable, challenging, and it allowed me to explode my heart's desires out on paper. That is where I am now... The Lord faithfully showed me that there is more to me than I even know... He knows because He created me. But He wanted me to show interest, me to put forth effort, me to practice, me to encourage others along the way, me to be... faithful. Faithfulness and Passion, I think, go hand in hand. I fail at both often, but am relieved that God is both for us, and that He and how He is never changes.

so... I would like to officially invite you to come and celebrate God's faithfulness to me...

I am hosting a giveaway in honor of my One Year Anniversary Of Papercutting!!! Please Come Over to my blog for more information on how to win a free 4 x 6 inch papercut…

Have a great day!!!

looking forward to seeing what else the Lord has in store for me, Celita
http://daysease.blogspot.com/

by the way, i love how you could explain so clearly what passions others in your life have. shows observation, care, and passion for relationship.