Passion

A couple months ago Jim Egli posed this question to use as a possible icebreaker.....

"At this moment, what is something you are really passionate about, and why?"

The question moved me so much that I wrote it out and posted it on the wall of my cubicle at the church. I think about it often, but quite honestly don't think I act on my passion enough. Is that truly a passion then?

Not sure about the rest of you, but I'm great at saying I'm passionate about things, or care about this or that, but not always so great about having my actions show that. Don't we all pay lip service to some things in our lives?

I love the series that we are in at church right now, GIVE! More than anything, that's truly THE passion in my life, to help others. In other words, to GIVE to others in numerous different ways. I spent many years at a local organization helping to feed and clothe the needy of our community. Now, I help at church with our small groups, which is all about helping each other grow, GIVING each other our time and energy.

I also traveled to South Africa last year with Team World Vision to run Comrades Marathon and raise child sponsorships. Our team raised over 1,000 new child sponsorships, and my family began sponsoring our second child. The best part of the trip was getting to meet Nomonde and her grandmother, whom she lives with.

My passion is helping others. But it's not just enough to recognize that. I need to be diligent in developing this passion, making sure it doesn't die. Honestly, I haven't written a letter to Nomonde in months, one of the key things a sponsor does with World Vision, Compassion, and other similar agencies. I met her less than a year ago, but I've let my passion fall off.

So, my challenge to you is twofold. First, ask yourself this question, "At this moment, what is something you are really passionate about, and why?" Take some time to allow that to sink into your mind and emotions. It could be anything from providing for your family, doing a good job at work, the church, sports, saving for a vacation. Doesn't have to be super spiritual.

The second question is this. How intentional are you being at developing that passion? Let's not be people that only pay lip service to things. Let's truly be people of action, in little things as well as big things. Is your passion growing or fading for the things you mentioned? Are the things you are currently passionate about worthy of your attention, or does your focus need to shift a bit? Many times I find myself passionate about only one thing, myself. There's no room for that kind of selfishness. But many times that's something I've got to fight to make room for my passion of helping others.

Speaking of developing our passions, I've got some letters to write to a special girl in Uganda, and an amazing girl in South Africa........