Spending passion wisely

We all have it. We all exert it. It's passion.
For some, it goes into a hobby, sport, or talent.
Others spend it on an entertainer, sports team, or TV show.
Our culture today provides hundreds of options for using our passion.
I was reminded last night of how much work it takes to redirect our passion in a direction that is both healthy and helpful as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Last night, I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with family and friends to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play against the Cleveland Browns. As a fan of the Steelers, it was a pretty frustrating game to watch. If you know the outcome of the game, you know that I was disappointed by the final score. But what happened after the game reminded me of how far I have come.
This morning would have been significantly different for me several years ago. I would have woken up in a bad mood, still bitter about the loss. I likely would have been in a bad mood for several days. Comments from my friends who are Browns fans would have gotten under my skin and fueled the anger and frustration lurking just under the surface.
Today is different. Am I disappointed that a football team I support and cheer for lost? Sure. But once the clock read 0:00 and I walked out of B-Dubs, it only took a few minutes to get past it. This game is not consuming my life.
That's right, it's just a game.
What I have learned over time is that it's just a game. It's a bunch of men playing a game and getting paid millions of dollars to do it. Is it entertaining? Sure. It is fun to watch. Sometimes. Is it worthy of a passion that consumes my life? Not really.
Before those of you who don't get into sports start shouting, "Amen," this doesn't just relate to sports.
I see friends who have that kind of passion about television shows, movies, or books. They talk about the characters throughout the week. They often quote those characters a lot more than they quote Jesus.
Others show that kind of passion for a sport or hobby. They will spend hours upon hours practicing and playing, while leaving little or no time to engage in activities of the Kingdom. It can even become their primary source of identity, rather than their identity as a child of God.
Others invest their passion in things such as the way they look, the labels on their clothing, the lifestyle they work to maintain, and their social status.
Most of the things I mention above aren't inherently evil or sinful. However, when they become the recipient of so much of our passion that we have little or none left for Jesus and His Kingdom, I believe that we have seriously misdirected our passion.
I will be the first to admit that I have not arrived when it comes to this. I still misappropriate my passion sometimes. I elevate some things to a level that is wrong. I am by no means perfect.
But I can tell you that last night's game was a reminder of how far I think I have come. Ten years ago, if I had witnessed this kind of loss, I would have likely ignored certain phone calls, avoided certain people, and been somewhat unpleasant for a few days.
Today?
Well, last night I slept peacefully. And this morning I woke up and my passion was focused on other things. Passion for my God. Passion for my wife. Passion for my son. And passion for people who need to see Jesus in me today.
There are people in the world who genuinely dislike each other simply because of the football jersey they wear. I watched a few of those people get into a fistfight a few months ago at a Steelers-Lions game I attended. Seriously? You're going to punch a guy because he likes the other team? How ridiculous is that?
That, my friends, is misspent passion.
Imagine if those of us in the church poured as much passion into worship, prayer, social justice, and spiritual growth, as we pour into our sports, hobbies, entertainment, and other pursuits. How different would our lives look and how different could the world around us look? Just a thought from a guy who's still on the journey of figuring out how to spend his passion wisely.

shine!
Jason