Today is the day. Today is the day that I stop piddling with it. Today is the day that I finally finish my presentation. Today is the day I finally finish my presentation on Passion ~ "Passion In All You Do" ~ Discover your passions in life and work and learn how to maintain them.
As I sat here earlier, I started feeling funny about finalizing this presentation on Easter weekend. It struck me that while I have been searching everywhere for the best examples of passion to share with my audience Wednesday...the perfect example of passion in action is right in front of me. Jesus.
...and that got me to thinking...
There are a lot of debates about Jesus amongst scholars, historians, Christians, and even me and my friends. The one thing everyone agrees on...he was passionate. Now do they use that word? No, at least not all of them. Is that a fair assessment? Yes, yes I believe it is.
Here is a man who followed in the footsteps of his earthly father's passions, and then radically shifted and followed in the footsteps of his heavenly father. Here is a man who struggled with, yet made those passions his own. He quite literally ate and breathed them. He was ridiculed for them. He was also adored for them. He walked in faith and stood firm in the belief of his passions. He ultimately died for them.
When I lived in Nashville, Tennessee, I came across a book by Laurie Beth Jones entitled Jesus, CEO. As a woman and Christian working in the business world, I was intrigued by the title alone. I had no idea how that book, and the others by the same author, would help mold my life. Well, during the Arkansas Literary Festival weekend (extravaganza for me), I came across a new book by Jones, her latest, Jesus, Life Coach. Frankly, I thought it a sign at the time because of the presentation I was working on, but I didn't pick it up again until a few minutes ago (when I started thinking...see above). Now I feel like...duh.
Next week, if I can engage and inspire a group of people to tap into their passion and live their passion as committed as Jesus was to his...well, boy I would be able to say I had accomplished something...and the prayers...start....now.
I think we all would love to live our passions that way...or like other inspirational individuals...Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Christopher Reeve, or maybe for you...your sister/brother/mother/father...fill-in-the-blank here.
So this weekend, please ask yourself. Who inspires you? What are you passionate about? Are you willing to be adored or ridiculed for it, and sometimes on the same day and by the same crowd? Are you willing to die for them? At the very least, are you willing to sacrifice yourself, your comfort, your time for them?
Let me just say that I do not believe the above questions all demand a "yes" response. What I believe is that you have to be willing to ask yourself the tough questions if you ever hope to come up with the honest answers that are going to make a difference, help you turn a corner, or help you change your life.
We all have "game changer" moments in our lives. The question is not are you going to have one. The question is what are you going to do with it?
Lets all ponder that this weekend...self included.
One final note, even Jesus questioned. Even Jesus. He prayed for another way other than the ultimate decision and sacrifice he had to make. So here is a thought....Jesus was perfect. He had no sin, yet he questioned.
Sidebar ~ I absolutely CANNOT believe where this post is going.
Lets resume...if Jesus was perfect, yet he questioned...I will leave that up to the reader (if anyone is even reading this thing).
My simple point is that you have to be willing to ask yourself the hard questions so that you can determine your true passion. Then, you have to do the hard work to live that passion. There is no magic pill or box or answer. There are tough questions and hard work. Period.
It is worth it.
I have been fighting for various passions in my life for a long, long time. Scholarships, career changes, charities, relationships, hobbies, workshop building, and on and on. I have shed many tears, had numerous doubts, made tons of mistakes, hurt people's feelings, and had my own hurt. In the end, and I hope my life is far from over God willing, I have had the opportunity to see, do, accomplish and experience some amazing things. Above all of that though, I have been able to live a life that allows me to look in the mirror every day and say, "I'm doing my best. I am still learning. Lord, watch over me."
I wish for you a day of gratitude, a weekend of gratitude, and quality time with your family and your passion(s) (for most I am sure those are securely bound). I hope that whatever your beliefs, the above speaks to you in a very personal and unique way. My thoughts and experiences are my own...my intent is not to bestow them on you, but to inspire you (or make you laugh) because of them.
I am a deeply passionate and grateful girl this Easter weekend.
Sunshine Dreams to You ~ Today and Every Day! :)