Tip of My Iceberg

There are those who love to dance.

There are others who are made for it.

While in Pennsylvania, we had opportunities to watch our grands do a variety of things. Kicking soccer balls, playing video games, racing each other.

And dancing. Especially the two youngest, Scout and Mack.

They can break down the moves to most upbeat songs. One of their favorites is “Eye Of The Tiger”, by Survivor. Written as the theme song for the 1982 film “Rocky III”, it’s all about not quitting in the fight. Not backing away from the hard things.

These guys never back down from the hard things.

Their cousins further to the south in Orlando dance to a different beat. Brooklyn has the grace of a ballet dancer and delights in moving to classics such as Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite”; the guys just like to annoy her with their version of classic dancing. Which never looks classic.

All of them dance with a passion that comes from the joy of moving to a rhythm that connects to their hearts.

For kids so often, passion morphs into fun.

Passion is so much a part of our lives because it motivates us to try the new and different, the challenging and unthinkable.

But passion can also be hijacked by the hope for glory, by the desire to be recognized and honored. What begins as hopeful joy and heartfelt fervor can spiral down into a quest for recognition. The lyrics to “The Eye of the Tiger” say it well:

“So many times, it happens too fast, you trade your passion for glory. Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past; you must fight just to keep them alive.”

We long to be seen and known, to be recognized for people of value, not lost as a number or a like or a mere shadow of an influencer. Our passion for life is too often subjugated to the harshness of circumstances, the traumas of life, or the actions of others.

It’s one more reason why we need to seek God. To find His passion for us and experience His strength in and through us.

Jeremiah, a prophet who suffered much because of the rebellion of the people he was sent to encourage, made it clear what motivated his passion despite his circumstances.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.’” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Jeremiah understood that genuine passion doesn’t always lead to recognition. It can often lead to being misunderstood by others, or worse, maligned by those who should understand you.

King David knew his passion had to be focused in the right place. He wasn’t perfect at it–he failed miserably at different times. His focus on God became a driving passion for him throughout his life.

“O, God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1

Only God can satisfy the thirst of our souls in a world that is parched and dry, in cultures that don’t feed our hearts or souls but deplete them. Only God can offer to free our passions from the expectations of others and the negative consequences of our own mistakes. Seeking glory for ourselves, wanting to be recognized for what we do, how much we can produce, isn’t long-lasting.

While our grands can give themselves up to the passion of the moment, to dance or to dream, we each need the freedom of heart and mind to pursue the wonder of what God is calling us to. Who He is calling us to be–loved, forgiven, hopeful.

It’s not fame or fortune that defines us. It’s the character of our passion, who we are in the depths of our hearts and souls, that speak to who we really are. Remember, on this earth, all glory is fleeting.

What does your passion say about you?