As a parent I’ve spent years telling our kids to find what they are passionate about. ”What are you willing to give up doing to continue do what it is you are passionate about?”
This worked until my kids asked me this question.
It was difficult because the things of life were crowding my time. From work to kids sports teams, or other commitments I had not given much thought to what I am passionate about. When marriage, kids, bills, i.e all the things I also wanted came into my life, I quickly put those passions to the side to instead meet all the obligations life was requiring of me at the time.
This is not a bad thing because my family is also something I am passionate about.
When I think about this idea of passion today now that my kids are older, I don’t think about hobbies. I think about what in my life is worth so much to me I will give up time, money, or comfort to continue doing.
Looking into the word “passion” I found that with having passion also comes suffering.
I had never realized I had been really asking my kids what are you willing to suffer for something you love. That, to no surprise, brought me to the idea that Passion Week, or the Passion of Christ. Which is not only about what all Jesus was up to the week leading into his greatest moment, but that which was also the worst moment for him.
Jesus’ Passion is for us to know him personally. He told his followers, “I must go so the “helper” could come.”
That helper is what Christians call the Holy Spirit.
I don’t fully understand the mechanics of how this works but I do know when this Holy Spirit has led me to do something outside of my normal it has turned into moments that I cannot fully explain.
Like when a young family in our small group came to a dinner one evening at our house in tears because the baby she was carrying had been found to be without a heartbeat. I felt terrible for them.
In the weight of that moment I felt the nudge to ask everyone to pray over her for comfort but when we started praying we found ourselves praying for a miracle.
I don’t think anyone thought we would experience anything miraculous in that moment but a week later when this family went to plan their next steps, a miracle is what they got. That little girl was alive and today is right where she is meant to be.
That is when I realized my passion is seeing Jesus move in lives of people in Montgomery. If you are looking for your own passion, I ask you to come beginning Palm Sunday, March 29th, and every night through Good Friday at 6pm to our Passion Week services. We will pray, sing, and learn about Jesus’ passion, which is for you to know him in a personal way. See you there!
