The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling. – Fabienne Fredrickson
Sister Act
About 10 years ago, Sr. Cristina Scuccia was briefly famous. At the time she was a 25-year-old member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family and she SHOCKED the Italian panel of ‘The Voice’ when they heard her rendition of Allicia Keys “No One”. For those of you who live under a rock and aren’t familiar with the show, contestants come out on the stage and sing while the celebrity panel sit in chairs with their backs to the singers. The celebrities listen and if they like what they hear, they hit a button which then turns their chair around and they see the contestant for the first time, so they are truly judging on the voice (thus the ingenious title of the show) and not the image of the contestant. Out comes this singer, the panel of judges like what they hear and one by one they ALL hit their buttons, turning their chairs around. They are visibly SHOCKED to see a nun in her habit (and sensible shoes) belting out the lyrics to the song! Sr. Cristina went on to win that season of the show, thanking God for her victory. On that first show, after affirming that she was indeed an authentic “Sister”, when asked why she did this show she responded, “I came here because I have a gift and I want to share that gift. I am here to evangelize.” She also stated, “I was inspired to audition for ‘The Voice’ by Pope Francis’ call for Catholics to ‘get out onto the streets.’” Singing is her passion, her God-given gift, and she is using it for God’s glory!
Happy Campers
As a camp counselor, I was assigned to a family for Family Camp the summer when the Bible Study dealt with our God-given gifts. One afternoon, I was talking to a mom who was rather distraught because she saw herself as having no gifts to share – she listed everything she could not do (sing, play an instrument, lead a bible study, speak in front of people, etc.). I honestly told her about her amazing gift of listening and how she literally listened with her whole body. Tears came to her eyes as she spoke of not realizing that listening could be considered a gift. She cried tears of joy as she realized that she did have an amazing gift to share! We often have gifts that we don’t recognize because we take them for granted or don’t think they are important or of value. What gifts do you possess that you might be taking for granted?
Chariots of Fire
This award winning 1981 movie, “Chariots of Fire”, was based on the 1924 Olympics in Paris where the missionary Eric Liddell refused to compete in the 100 meter race because it was held on a Sunday. He did compete in the men’s 400 meters and won a gold medal. In the movie, when questioned about his commitment to running taking him away from missionary work, he said, “God has made me to be a missionary, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Wow! What is it that you do that has you feeling God’s pleasure? Fill in the blank: When I ____________, I feel God’s pleasure.
The original Greek word for enthusiasm meant “filled with God”. Christians who have passion and enthusiasm are people filled with God! What fills you? What are you passionate about? A God-ordained passion begins to feel more and more like something we cannot ignore unless we decide to be deliberately disobedient. What is it that you do that puts you in the zone, that feels right, where you feel God’s pleasure? Is it a part of your current ministry setting? Is it a part of your current Sabbath schedule? What do you need to do to make it so?
Take some time today to make a list of every single gift, talent and passion that you possess from work related to leisure. How are they being used in your life right now? Are there ways that you can incorporate these passions more in your ministry and life? What would that look like?
Blessings to you as you rediscover and recommit to your enthusiasm – your God ordained passions!
