What is passion?  How is passion grown in our hearts?  I don’t know the answers to these questions, but as I’ve learned, God reveals in our hearts the things we are passionate about, and often these passions are connected with the gifts we are given, and talents we have.

Passion is often defined as more of an emotional experience we have, but I’ve learned that passion is both an emotion, but also something that can be buried and grown deep in our hearts, and that “emotion” has roots, and is stronger than a passing feeling.

We all know the story Jesus tells about the master who gives his three servants “talents” or coins to invest, and it is the choice of the servant what is done with those gifts.  (The parable is found in two of the Gospels, in Matthew 25:14-30, and Luke 19:12-28).  In this familiar story, we can also see ourselves.  God has given us things in this life, maybe they are material things like money, maybe it is time, maybe it’s a spiritual gift, there are a number of things that could be seen as the “talents” in our lives, and we can choose to be selfish with those things, or we can choose to serve God with those things.  Part of serving God with these things may also look different, maybe it will mean DEVELOPING a certain skill, talent, or gift.

Our God is gracious, but I pose a question that I’m not sure has an answer: if we are given something and don’t do anything with it because we are scared of losing it, or afraid of disappointing God, can that be taken away?  Can we “lose” a passion we have?  A gift or talent we have?  Money?  Time?  Spiritual gift?  I think so.  INVESTING can mean a number of things, but if God has been the one to give us that gift all along, I don’t think we should fear losing it, or more importantly, providing for our needs.  In the parable, the master called the servant “evil and lazy”, or burying his money.  In Luke, the servant of the King said he was afraid because the King was a harsh man, and “severe”.  

I have a number of thoughts about this parable, and also passion, and faith, but time has run out for now.  There will be a “Part 2” coming soon, I have some thoughts to share about how this has impacted me recently.

I’d love to hear your thoughts… I think this is something many of us wrestle with, and it’s nice to know we’re not alone.

Love you all.
Mer