Passion Problems

Passion is stupid. It doesn't care how much you'll get paid, doesn't ask how many hours you'll have to work, doesn't bother who'll take note and applaud and doesn't concern itself with the risks. Passion only cares about the butterflies in your stomach, the sparkle in your eye and 'unmanipulatable' feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment that meets the end of each task.

My father is one to always question my passion-driven ventures. I was ecstatic when I went to collect the documents I'd need for registering marriages from the Home Affairs department. It was a Monday, and I was having a very blue one, but it immediately turned yellow, pink and orange when I was told my exam results. I was jubilant, smiling like I was high walking through town. Once home, I was dancing like king David (only with all my clothes on) when daddy dearest attempted bursting my bubble.
"So how much are you going to be paid for officiating a marriage?"
I knew where we were going with this question, it's the same one asked almost 6 years ago when I was adamant on following my passion for ministry.

So I explained that The Marriage Act of 1961 forbids that Marriage Officers be paid or rewarded for their services. I was appealing to his cop nature, the law guardian. Oho. Passion always leads up to answering a multitude of questions. Why waste your time and energy studying for something that wont make you money? What's so special about marrying people anyway? And then the real problem is that you only sound more stupid trying to explain it. Passion doesn't make sense to others. I know better now not to be mad at them for not understanding, they only see the smoke, they do not feel the fire.

I always see passion when I read about Ahimaaz son of Zadok in 2 Samuel 18. The guy was a messenger of the king, a runner. In his wickedness, Joab didn't want him to run to David with the news of his son's death. He tried every logical explanation in order to discourage Ahimaaz, but it didn't work. The guy was too passionate. They told him someone else already had the job, told him there would be no reward for him, his response: "Come what may, I want to run."
When Joab finally allowed him to, the Bible tells us that Ahimaaz outrun the guy that had been appointed to run in his place. Moral of the story: passion isn't about opportunity nor reward, it's about faithfulness and fulfillment. It dares to take risks and accelerates you beyond others in the field who are there by ability and not anointing.

I came across a great statement by T.D Jakes recently: "If you can't figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose."
Passion might be a handful to carry around and explain to a world driven by salary slips and benefits,  but you'll follow it once you understand that it defines you and what you're here for.