The past few days have been an epic eruption of emotion. I've felt everything from utter despair and brokenness to complete euphoria. 'Twas a very exhausting excursion and I am very hopeful that the end of that experience has arrived.
Dear friends, I want to apologize to all those I may have disturbed in those days of sheer unpredictable happenings. I unloaded massive amounts of distress and unscathed agitation on my peers in a desperate attempt to gain some relief and attention. That was probably unnecessary and I'm sorry for being a burden.
Alright, now that that is taken care of, I can move on to the real reason for this blog!
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Today, I have a word. The word that I want to change and shape my life.
Passion.
This word has several definitions. My favorite, though, is this: "an outburst of strong emotion or feeling."
Passion is something that is easily recognized, by both the person experiencing it and any observer. As soon as passion is stirred it is impossible to ignore or disguise. When you find that thing, that aspect of life that catches your attention and causes you to engulf yourself in it, you cannot evade it.
The origin of this word is ever-intriguing. It is first used to describe the reason for Christ's suffering on the Cross.
There is even a flower, called the passionflower.
"The name passionflower -- flos passionis -- arose from the supposed resemblance of the corona to the crown of thorns, and of the other parts of the flower to the nails, or wounds, while the five sepals and five petals were taken to symbolize the ten apostles -- Peter ... and Judas ... being left out of the reckoning." ["Encyclopedia Brittanica," 1885]
Passion is later associated with the Biblical martyrs and their incomparable suffering for the sake of our Savior.
Then, finally in the 1580s it is used to describe the sense of sexual love.
This word seems to commonly be affiliated with four major concepts: Sexuality, Love, Suffering, and Death.
It is no coincidence that every controversial and debated issue centers around one or more of these concepts.
Passion is so much more than just caring about something. Passion is an unmistakable urge to take action at any given moment for a specific purpose. Passion is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to suppress. It is simply one of the strongest feelings or emotions that one can experience.
All this being said though, I still have not touched on my favorite aspect of passion.
Passion is involuntary. Passion is so overwhelming that it is only possible to be submissive toward it.
What a blessing. No, seriously, that is such an amazing thing. Think about it.
What if we had a choice in being passionate? I concede that we have a choice in taking action on our passions, but the feeling itself is dominating.
It causes tears to well up in your eyes. It causes rage beyond compare when someone attacks that which you love. It causes that uncontrollable laughter that pains your sides after a while. It causes you to be completely comfortable in the arms of your lover. It causes that instantaneous protective instinct that makes you feel like you could wrestle a 500 pound bear to save a loved one.
Passion is beautiful and dangerous. Passion makes you vulnerable, and at the same time passion strengthens you.
Embrace it with confidence, friend, and discover how it will change your life.
