006: Passion

February 21, 2010
Ephesians 3:12-4:32

“That which is of most importance is a long pursuit in the same direction.” – Neizche

My African Dad and Mentor wrote that quote on my “visitor poster” in a little above-the-garage apartment I had for six months. One of the things I admire about my African Dad is his steely-eyed gaze and fixed passion on Jesus.

I was just listening to a sermon about passion. The pastor was saying that one of the hardest things for humans to do is maintain an intense passion for one thing over a long period of time.

I see this to be true in my life. I’m a passionate individual, but I’m a shallow one. I dabble in a variety of things, getting excited about it, but never really going anywhere with them. Soccer, Hip-Hop dance, Ballroom dancing, Song Writing, etc. There are a few things that have sustained interest and pursuit in my life over the long haul, though: people, healthy living, writing, and… Jesus.

Although I prayed to be saved from my sins as a young girl – 3 or 4, probably – I do not count my faith as my own until I was about 13. Through a variety of circumstances and minor emotional incidents, I realized that if I didn’t have my own relationship with God, I didn’t know what my reason for living was. It’s been a developmental process, with some times being more productive and progressive than others, but I can look back on the last nine year of my life and say with confidence that God has been a priority in my life.

But what this sermon was challenging me to think about is whether or not God has been THE priority in my life. Has Jesus been THE passion of my life?

Humbly, I must admit he has not.

There have been seasons where he has been – I’d say the last several years His ranking on the priority list of my life has regularly been in the top three – but that’s not good enough.

That’s not good enough because Jesus didn’t rank me at number three. Ever. He didn’t think, “Oh, well, I should probably die for Dani’s sins – she definitely needs me to – but I’m having too much fun painting these sunsets over here in the Orion constellation, and I just created this new game of throwing moons into a black hole. Maybe later I can get to Dani.”

Absolutely not. He was and is and will always be passionate for me, because he’s passionate about his church – his bride – and I’m a part of that.

I don’t really care if I’m not steadily passionate about hobbies or careers in life, although I’ll admit bouncing around can form a pattern that is detrimental. But I do want to be passionate, for the long haul, about Jesus. How do I make that happen?