Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Some thoughts on Passion



The following blog post on passion was for my good friend Stephen as a past of the 'Summer of Wholeness' project.

This morning my son had the TV remote and he was flicking through the channels trying to find something to watch. He got to ESPN and let out a shriek of excitement. He’d found the WRC Rally show. Neither I nor my wife have ever really found cars that exciting. As long as it works, as long at it does its job, we’re good with that. That all changed when our boy started to talk. Of his first ten words, I think 6 of them were types of cars. Since that moment, cars have been his passion for cars just spills out of him and into our family life. Even though I’m not into cars, I love these moments and I chase them with him. It’s amazing to see him so full of energy and full of joy. This is when he feels most alive.

So when do you feel most alive? What is it that gives you energy? What is it that makes you say “wow”? Today we are thinking about living our passions and how you answer these questions will tell you a lot about what your passions are. Maybe it’s chasing down a PB when you run. Maybe it’s walking. Maybe it’s music, painting, driving or drinking a really great cup of coffee. For me, it’s reading scripture or Christian books, taking in great views and helping people grow.
Sometimes we have to approach it from the other direction to discover our passions. Sometimes our passions arise from what makes us angry. I have a friend who is passionate about justice and spends her time campaigning on behalf of others. This is what makes her feel so alive. It was and is her anger that drives her passion. Interesting huh?

Psalm 139:13 says “you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.” (Message). This tells me that my passions are God placed. He shaped me so that I would really hate math but really love reading. So when I get the buzz I get from a new idea or seeing that person grow, I am living out my God-placed passions. These are holy moments.

So, how can we live out our passions? It’s all about being intentional. We need to create space in our diaries specifically for these passions. Regularly. Make them a priority and do as much as you can without ignoring other important duties. We then need to find places. For me, I read in Starbucks, I walk in our local area of natural beauty and I am fortunate enough to have a job that enables me to help others grow. I’ve also found it helpful to share this with those around me. My wife is very aware that I need this time and she understands that it pays dividends in our family time. I’m much less cranky when I’ve had my time! So there you have it. What makes you feel most alive? Find out what it is and make time for it, find the right place for it and share it with those who love you.