I do a lot of teaching at writers' conferences and leading retreats, that kind of thing. One of the workshops I've been doing for a number of years is a joint exploration on something that I've been thinking a lot about lately: passion. Not necessarily the romance kind of passion, though that's always nice to think about. Especially when you've got a hubby you think is pretty wonderful. (Which I do...Love you, Don!
) Mostly what I've been thinking about is deep-in-the-core passion. Life passion. The kind of passion that drives you; gets you out of bed in the morning; gives the good, bad, and even ugly of life meaning.And though I've taught this workshop on passion a number of times--most recently at the Pacific Bible College One-Day conference in Medford, Oregon--I've learned that it's never the same. Because passion is alive and active, it's different things to different people, and sometimes it even changes. But through all, it's deep within us. It's a part of the fabric of who we are.
So since we're heading toward Valentine's Day, I thought I'd see if you wanted to go on an exploration with me. To discover passion.
Real passion.
Ruling passion.
Life passion.
First, we'll explore what it is. And what YOURS is. Then we'll figure out what hinders passion, and what nurtures it. Sound good? Okay.
The more I've pondered the whole idea of passion, the more one question kept rolling around in my brain: What exactly is it? So I went to a source I love to explore, one where I can get lost in the pages (which shows one of my passions is definitely words): Webster's. Here's what my dear ol' dictionary had to say about passion:
a (1): emotion
Hmmm...intense, driving, overmastering...ardent...strong...devotion...deep desire or interest.
Okay, that rings true. But what do others have to say about passion?
German poet and dramatist, Hebbel, once said: "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion."
Joss Whedon, a man who understands witty, passionate writing, said: “Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... Waiting... And though unwanted... Unbidden... It will stir... Open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... Guides us... Passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... The clarity of hatred... And the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace... But we would be hollow... Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.”
Wow. I like that. A lot.
So how about you? What do you think passion is? And what do you think YOUR passion might be?
Can't wait to read your thoughts!
Peace, friends.
Karen
