What Is Your Passion?

[Jay]

My father and I are both passionate about Southern Gospel music. Between the two of us, we have nearly 800+ cds.

I am also passionate about politics, history, family, friends, and religion. One of my overwhelming passions is to know more about the ways of the gifts of the Spirit.

[Bro. Robbins]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

IMO, everyone is passionate about something.

You said exactly what my acuaintance said. And honestly, I think that there are some of us in life, that just don't have a passion. I probably didn't in my younger days, but life isn't like that for me now.

There are many of us, that life is about getting up, working 50+ hours at a job we're not crazy about, but desperately need in this economy to survive, meeting church obligations, trying to be a good citizen, chores and duties at home (no wife and live alone, so it's all me at home), family obligations, trying to be the Christian God would have me be, going to bed, and starting all over the next day. I don't have any hobbies, nothing I collect, no spare time to do anything, etc.

I look around me, and see a ton of my friends, especially in recent years, just trying to live. Nothing we're passionate about, but just trying to make it day by day and make it one more day. So, I'll have to disagree here... I used to have many passions, but that luxury is gone in my life now... just how it is... and I see many others in the same boat... and frankly, that's okay. Nothing says you have to have a passion.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

You said exactly what my acuaintance said. And honestly, I think that there are some of us in life, that just don't have a passion. I probably didn't in my younger days, but life isn't like that for me now.

There are many of us, that life is about getting up, working 50+ hours at a job we're not crazy about, but desperately need in this economy to survive, meeting church obligations, trying to be a good citizen, chores and duties at home (no wife and live alone, so it's all me at home), family obligations, trying to be the Christian God would have me be, going to bed, and starting all over the next day. I don't have any hobbies, nothing I collect, no spare time to do anything, etc.

I look around me, and see a ton of my friends, especially in recent years, just trying to live. Nothing we're passionate about, but just trying to make it day by day and make it one more day. So, I'll have to disagree here... I used to have many passions, but that luxury is gone in my life now... just how it is... and I see many others in the same boat... and frankly, that's okay. Nothing says you have to have a passion.

Maybe you better have another look at your signature line and put that together with what you've said above? God gave us this life to really LIVE, to experience the earth in all it's glory. He could have made it any way he wanted to... with just enough to subsist but He made it glorious with so many wonders. If I were not a farmer, which requires being in one place much of the time here are some things that I would enjoy to the point of considering them a passion:

Fishing/Hunting
Horseback riding
Photography
Travel- especially the RV variety
Travel to other countries

If I had not broken my leg into many pieces that did not properly knit I would include:

Distance running
Hiking
Surfing/Water skiing

One of the things that nearly ruined my life was obligation. The one I had to church especially. Having to be somewhere every time the doors opened, which in my case was 5 times a week, was beyond too much. And while these people were/are my friends and I enjoyed seeing them, we did not really get to interact that much. After all those years I finally came to the conclusion that another sermon is not what I need to live for God... what I needed was to actually LIVE for God. To His glory, in everything I do.

In addition to farming I am a blogger and a raw food advocate. Getting people healthy means something to me. Going out to eat fat filled restaurant food after church with a bunch of people who were already grossly overweight three times a week was not consistent with that at all but it was really the only social outlet in our church except special occasions (which also usually involved food). So for now our little group of home churchers t is working much better for me. They are mostly farmer/homeschooler types, like me.

I truly hope you find things to love in life and to be passionate about.

[Bro. Robbins]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Maybe you better have another look at your signature line and put that together with what you've said above? God gave us this life to really LIVE, to experience the earth in all it's glory. He could have made it any way he wanted to... with just enough to subsist but He made it glorious with so many wonders. If I were not a farmer, which requires being in one place much of the time here are some things that I would enjoy to the point of considering them a passion:

Fishing/Hunting
Horseback riding
Photography
Travel- especially the RV variety
Travel to other countries

If I had not broken my leg into many pieces that did not properly knit I would include:

Distance running
Hiking
Surfing/Water skiing

One of the things that nearly ruined my life was obligation. The one I had to church especially. Having to be somewhere every time the doors opened, which in my case was 5 times a week, was beyond too much. And while these people were/are my friends and I enjoyed seeing them, we did not really get to interact that much. After all those years I finally came to the conclusion that another sermon is not what I need to live for God... what I needed was to actually LIVE for God. To His glory, in everything I do.

In addition to farming I am a blogger and a raw food advocate. Getting people healthy means something to me. Going out to eat fat filled restaurant food after church with a bunch of people who were already grossly overweight three times a week was not consistent with that at all but it was really the only social outlet in our church except special occasions (which also usually involved food). So for now our little group of home churchers t is working much better for me. They are mostly farmer/homeschooler types, like me.

I truly hope you find things to love in life and to be passionate about.

There is no contradiction between my signature line and what I said. Seems like you always want to argue with anything I post and find fault.

I'm just saying, I think the whole "have a passion in life" is a luxury for some. And there's nothing that says you have to have a passion in life. Some people just live and are content just living a simple life with no frills and nothing they are really passionate about. And that's me, and I'm very, very content. Out of all the people I know at work, church, family.... there are very few that have a passion, but most of them seem very content with their lives without one. My acquaintance made is sound as if someone without a passion was somehow depressed, opressed, and lacking... and I don't believe that is true in all cases.

By the way, never said I didn't have things in life that I loved....that's a different topic... I said I don't have a passion in life. Big difference.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

There is no contradiction between my signature line and what I said. Seems like you always want to argue with anything I post and find fault.

I'm just saying, I think the whole "have a passion in life" is a luxury for some. And there's nothing that says you have to have a passion in life. Some people just live and are content just living a simple life with no frills and nothing they are really passionate about. And that's me, and I'm very, very content. Out of all the people I know at work, church, family.... there are very few that have a passion, but most of them seem very content with their lives without one. My acquaintance made is sound as if someone without a passion was somehow depressed, opressed, and lacking... and I don't believe that is true in all cases.

By the way, never said I didn't have things in life that I loved....that's a different topic... I said I don't have a passion in life. Big difference.

Bro Robbison I am not 'arguing' with you. You asked a question and I am trying to help you answer your question. I live a VERY simple life but I find pleasure in watching grass grow. So simple does not equal boring or discontented.

One of the keys for me in how I saw your post was that you repeatedly refer to your life's activities as 'obligations'... the antithesis of 'passions'. I too work nearly 50 a week off farm in a hospital. I spend time helping people transiton from health to sickness and sickness to helath. I find great joy in that. I did not list it as a passion because I am currently trying to leave it to farm full time and I didn't want to sound like a big blow-hard... but actually I love my work. It is not that my job is just so great... It's an attitude. I realize that God could have made the world any way He wanted but he did not make it just for us to subsist He made it for us to flourish!

Whatever we do should be done for His GLORY.
My answer is if you do not feel passionate about what you are doing, perhaps you are not doing what God intended for you to.

In example, you are a minister correct? But admittedly not passionate about it. I would like to suggest a book to you, "Called and Sent or Just Went", you can find it here:

http://pentecostalpublishing.com/node/3899

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Bro Robbison I am not 'arguing' with you. You asked a question and I am trying to help you answer your question. I live a VERY simple life but I find pleasure in watching grass grow. So simple does not equal boring or discontented.

One of the keys for me in how I saw your post was that you repeatedly refer to your life's activities as 'obligations'... the antithesis of 'passions'. I too work nearly 50 a week off farm in a hospital. I spend time helping people transiton from health to sickness and sickness to helath. I find great joy in that. I did not list it as a passion because I am currently trying to leave it to farm full time and I didn't want to sound like a big blow-hard... but actually I love my work. It is not that my job is just so great... It's an attitude. I realize that God could have made the world any way He wanted but he did not make it just for us to subsist He made it for us to flourish!

Whatever we do should be done for His GLORY.
My answer is if you do not feel passionate about what you are doing, perhaps you are not doing what God intended for you to.

In example, you are a minister correct? But admittedly not passionate about it. I would like to suggest a book to you, "Called and Sent or Just Went", you can find it here:

http://pentecostalpublishing.com/node/3899

I think it depends on how you define "passion." There may be a disconnect there.... To me, "passion" is the driving force behind most our choices (although many things are simply responsibilities), and so I see what people do and I assume these are the things they are passionate about.

There are times when our choices have led us away from our passions and IMO, that's when we need to reevaluate and organize our lives to include the things, people and experiences that matter.

Of course, we can't expect our whole life to be full of excitement, either. We survive the humdrum so that we can enjoy the special moments and special people. That's life.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

There is no contradiction between my signature line and what I said. Seems like you always want to argue with anything I post and find fault.

It's just a discussion; not an argument.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Amanah

If I am passionate about anything it would be about God,
although I would not say I always have an intense drive,
I can say He consumes my thoughts.

I'm also passionate about my dog, Siegfried, he is my walking and running partner. We eat breakfast together in the mornings, he likes scrambled eggs, but not french toast. He walks me to the door in the morning when I go to work, and greets me when I get home. He keeps me company when I'm watching movies, reading books, or whatever I'm doing. He likes me better then he likes anyone else in the world, and with the exception of my husband and sister, I feel the same towards him.

[Bro. Robbins]

Originally Posted by Bro. Robbins

"A passion is an intense drive that one has for a particular thing or activity. It consumes your thoughts during your down time if it's not your occupation. When people ask you what you're passionate about, you don't have to think about it."

This is how it was framed as the definition of having a Passion in life. So this is the working hypothesis I was hoping the thread would go from so that we're all on the same page in how we're defining, having a passion.

Yes, I am a minister, and love doing what I do. I am called, know that without a shadow of a doubt, but I wouldn't say it's my passion, working within the confines of the definition that was provided to me by the person who asked me the original question.

There is nothing that consumes my thoughts during my down time... I don't have down time. There is nothing that immediately jumps to mind if someone asked me what I'm passionate about.

I have a great love for ministry, my family, living right, and other things... but none of them are a passion for me. I don't think everyone has a passion, and don't think they are any worse off in life without one.

Someone posted they loved to see grass grow... cool, but that doesn't mean it's your passion just cause you love it.

Someone also asked about "obligations". Life is full of them! Life isn't about being happy and enjoying yourself, sometimes you get to do those things, and sometimes you don't. We are here for His Glory and His purpose, our agenda, wants, desires and even happiness are far down on the list most of the time. We're here to do right and be kingdom minded, not have a good time.

MY WHOLE POINT OF THE THREAD... is... working within the confines of the definition that my acquaintance provided, I answered them that I don't have a passion. And from that, this person seemed to infer that everyone MUST have a passion in life, or somehow they are less fullfilled in life. And I just don't buy that.

I've known my parents for 39 years, they've been married 48. I've never known either of them to have any passion about anything, but they have been wonderful, amazing parents. They have a successful marriage, and they are very happy and content.

Maybe just living is enough in itself for some of us, and we don't need the luxury of having a "passion" in life. Possibly???????

[Hoovie]

It does depend on how one defines passion... I guess I could say I am very passionate and aggressive in my business, and I do love it. But I am also obligated to perform well, to provide for the family and make another trip to Europe a reality..