Passion

I once met a woman and began to talk to her. We exchanged the normal pleasantries, titles and occupations with relative ease and the conversation was enjoyable. I then abruptly asked her, "What is you passion?" She did not quite understand the question, and asked me to explain. I simply restated the word- passion- "What is your passion...or rather what are you most passionate about?" She told me no one had ever asked her that question...and that she did not know. The conversation trailed off after that exchange...and well, I could not even tell you her name. In essence, the name of the woman does not matter it is the interaction that brings forth this entry, and that is the fact that she did not know what her passion was and had never bothered to even think of it. I do not feel like she is alone; that most people do not know what their passion is nor are they in active pursuit of it.

I may be one of those people. I went to a play last night. It was an August Wilson play entitled Jitney at the Ford's Theater. I knew one of the cast members, as we had worked together about 5 or 6 years ago. He had told me when we were both employees in the same spot, that this 9 to 5 was not him and he longed to be an actor. He told me he was going to try to make because he had a passion for acting. I remember thinking, man, you are way older than me-why you gonna try and be an actor now...that is not real responsible. I was a doubter...not necessarily in him but in the entire notion of pursuing your passion. I went to a reception after the play, and got to meet all the actors and see my friend. I told him how proud I was of him, and how much I enjoyed the play and his role within it. He told me the road has not been easy, but he feels so good simply doing what he loves to do...

Often, we are caught in routine; a safe routine where the biggest chance we take is buying a lottery ticket. I truly think that most are deterred from their passion as children...parents try to mold their children's lives to ensure they have the best opportunity to be successful. However, even if certain traits or desires are identified early, if they do not coincide with the route a parent thinks is best then those traits, desires...passions are not cultivated. I do not blame parents for this, it is a matter of socialization. I mean, if I had to work hard to make it I want my child to have it easier, and take the opportunities I provide to be better than me. The problem is that this notion of better most often has to do with "finance" and nothing to do with passion. Money does not equate happiness; a job that you have no love for is more punishment than pleasure.

The arguement is however, that passion cannot feed you. It can...there are millions of people eatting off their passion. But I do understand, a good job that pays well is not always easy to come by. The responsibilities of life can move you quickly from what one would like to do, to what one has to do. Passion can be misleading, unpredictable and inconsistent. It can rise and fall, and bring ridicule and even shame. Still, to live life for something that you really and truly believe in and to committ your life to work in that area is a beautiful notion. To be all your heart desires you to be...is that not what God intended? To me, God placed a passion for something within us all...and in some way the Creator wishes for us to pursue that which has been placed into our spirit-the catch is we must trust in him, through trial and tribulation, to reach that which we were born to pursue. Thus, passion and faith go hand in hand.

If we continue to hide from ourselves, we will never really know all we can be. If we never pursue our passion, then will we have ever truly lived? There are no true answers to this question, all must ask it of themselves and then reflect on their lives...am I getting the most out of this life or is it a dull routine that becomes more mundane by the minute? I used to perform and do spoken word poetry...now, I remember when I did. Occasionally I may do a performance-church or a school-but it is not as frequent as I would like. I think I will begin again...seeking out my passion and living, at least in part, for it. So I go back to the conversation with the unknown woman and ask the world- "What is your Passion?" - and will you ever pursue that which is within yourself?