Particupating Full Force

“Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”  – Martha Graham   Martha was a dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence of Picasso.  She wrote in her memoirs, “I have spent all my life with dance and being a dancer. It’s permitting life to use you in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant. Sometimes it is fearful. But nevertheless it is inevitable.”

Paul writes in Romans 12:11  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.”  I so appreciate The Message’s wording, “keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master.”  Passion is about intense emotion, where zeal is about intense actions.  Coupled together,  well… great dynamics.  I look at passion and zeal as being heart ready – heart early.  My heart, mind, soul and spirit fully THERE before required or expected.  What are we passionate about?  What motivates us to action?

Steve Harvey has this take on passion.  He said everyone is trying to find their passion, but what they really need to look at is their giftings.  Do what comes natural to you, and do that well and serve others with it.

He has a great example of wanting to be an NBA player when he grew up, that was his passion and all he could talk about.   The only problem was, the majority of the time when he’d get the ball and start racing down the court with it-he’d end up losing the ball somewhere in the middle.  It wasn’t his gift.  It did not benefit he or the team.  Don’t waste your life striving for that passion that is not yours, it will be frustrating.  Be who you are and do it the BEST.  Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, and don’t compare your gifts with those of others, we’re all made to fulfill specific needs, each as important as the next.  So many of us are attempting to be great at things we are not called to, in doing so we may waste valuable time and energy.

My passion was birthed and installed by the Holy Spirit.  At the age of 18, God planted deep inside me the calling of being a teacher of the Word. On that day, after only a week in session, I walked out of art class at the local community college where I was enrolled in the Graphics Arts program.  I never returned.   I pointed my life in the direction of bible college.  Two years later I had 4 men (who didnt know me) lay their hands on me – prophetically state the same and imparted a teaching mantel.  As much as I would love to dribble down the court at full speed and glide effortlessly into the most graceful lay up – slam dunk. (ok, throw in breaking the backboard glass)  I am however, on the side lines with a geeky book in hand.

It is up to me to allow this ‘purpose’ to be nurtured.  Heart ready – heart early.   I know my part is to continue to particupate full force in what God has called me to.  I get up early to pray/read/study/write.  I am ready, pen in hand – hands on keys to scribe what I feel the Lord directs.  Often I end up face down on the floor  completely overwhelmed – unabandoned.

Pastor Mark Conner shared, “Purpose has to do with our head – thinking right about why we’re here and understanding our calling. ‘Passion’ has to do with our heart – the internal fire that motivates us and energises us to fulfill our purpose and do God’s will.”

What are we energized to participate full force in? What is it that puts an exclimation mark at the end of our sentences – at the end of our day! Do we have an unflagging pursuit or devotion to a cause?  Do we know our gifting?   Are we heart ready – heart early for ANYTHING?  Have we asked God to impart spiritual passion and understanding within us?

May we be challenged to speak as Martha, “I have spent all my life, loving and serving God and God’s people. It’s permitting Him to use me in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant. Sometimes it is fearful. But nevertheless it is inevitable.” And may we dance as Martha did.

Fuel and aflame us Lord!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds” – Heb.10:24)