What are you passionate about?

Japanese workers pause for a moment of observance before beginning their rescue and repair tasks







On March 11th, we watched with horror as the tremendous power of the tsunami literally swept away villages and lives in an instant in Japan. Because it was in the middle of the day, helicopters in the air and civilians on the ground with cameras captured the horrific events. We watched and we shared in their terror. We continue to pray for these people that God would comfort them and restore them.

As I watched the television coverage of the Japan tragedy on the Japanese TV channel NHK, the magnitude of the devastation was practically beyond imagination. Now, over a week later, I turn on NHK, using my satellite tv equipment, and I see bulldozers, helicopters; and tears mixed with determined labor as people struggle to repair and restore the Japanese civilization that was destroyed. I saw numerous film clips today of laborers and survivors preparing for and then executing their reconstruction duties. There are still tears and lamentations, but you can see and feel, from halfway around the world, that these people, though not always outwardly emotional, are full of great passion and determination to pursue their engrained values and lifestyles. I saw workers praying before beginning their duties and then letting go with a cheer to show their great determination to succeed in their work that day. That is true unadulterated passion. We can take a lesson from these folks in many ways regarding these character traits.

Unfortunately, we often mistake passion for emotion, and vice versa. I once had a quasi-argument with a well-educated scholar over this issue. We see emotionally charged people and call them passionate. I encourage you to observe these Japanese folks who although might be overcome with grief and shed some tears, are determined to press ahead with life. Why? I submit it is because of their passion for their country, their values, and their way of life, which is engrained into them as children. It isn’t because they are typically an outwardly emotional culture.

So why does this matter to us as Christians, you ask? Because, Jesus Christ is our example for life. He displayed passion for people and the world in general to the extent that He gave His life on the cross to save mankind. He had his “emotional” moments, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane and when he shed a tear over the death of Lazarus. However, His passion (via the Holy Spirit), and not his emotions drove Him to continue. See the difference? Emotions come and go. Passion and it’s accompanying perseverance come from the deepest parts of the soul- beyond where emotions originate, so to speak. Passion can even over-ride education and intellect. It has to. Think of the great martyrs of the Faith. They had passion for the Gospel of Christ. If they were solely driven by intellect and logic, they would have logically opted out of their martyrdom-producing trajectories.

How does this apply to us in our daily Christian lives?

Take a look at what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23-24:

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord”.

Passion and determination to follow the Lord Jesus in word and deed is what we are called to do. If it is God’s calling on your life to preach- do it with passion. If it is God’s calling on your life to bake a cake for a homeless person, do it with passion. If it is God’s calling on your life to write a blog for God’s glory, do it with passion. Do you still need an image of what I am talking about? Remember, the Japanese. They will rebuild. They will rebuild with dignity and perseverance, driven by passion for what matters the most to them- their way of life, their values, and their culture. Watch how passion for their own culture will result in incredible results. What would happen if Christians (myself included) had such passion for Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord?

Blessings!
George