Passionate People

The scene unfolding in front of me was fascinating. It was hard to believe that this could actually happen. If I could draw comparisons for you to understand – it would be like a man picking up 12 foot long kitchen counter top and carrying it the length of six city blocks. Then at the end of the journey, he tries to stick it into a hole in the ground.

There in front of me was a very small ant lifting a piece of bread that was four times the length of his body. He then proceeded to carry it the width of our driveway to his hidden home below the pavement. I watched for a long time as he manipulated the treasure to his goal.

There were many obstacles that he needed to avoid to get the bread to his home. There were stones and sticks that had littered the driveway. But nothing would stop this determined little fellow that worked so hard to get this home.

In a recent seminar that I attended, the presenters shared the value of “Passion” in one’s life. They said over and over again that without passion a person would not be able to get a head.

This past week I have witnessed all kinds of examples of passion at many different levels.

One evening we were at our granddaughter’s soccer game. Talk about passion! One young lady looked at the ball as she worked it down the field. Then she looked up at the goal ahead. The look on her face was amazing – she wanted a point for her team. Nothing and no one would stop her. She scored and then did a hop up and down as she declared her passion.

In the senior’s home that houses many older people there were two other kinds of passion. One little lady was up and walking with determination down the hallway. She smiled and said brightly, “Isn’t it lovely outside? I love summer!” This little lady still has a passion for life. The twinkle in her eye had not faced one bit with the years that had passed.

The other contrasting person was a man in a wheel chair that just sat staring at the TV. He answered the nurses’ questions when she came in – so I knew he could speak. He just couldn’t walk – thus the wheel chair. As I spoke to him he had no or little fire left in him. He had given up many years ago. He was angry at his kids for putting him in the nursing home. There was a little passion shown when he became angry expressing himself – but for the most part that faded out quickly. Then he returned to the TV program that played unending in the background.

What a contrast for one to consider. The passionate ant that would stop at nothing to the stiff old man that sat doing nothing and refused to participate in anything.

I chose passion for today. I will act on it again. Hot or not hot outside – I am out of here. I need to enjoy the scenery that is all around me. I need to see the any working hard. I need to watch a good soccer game.
By the way… I didn’t shoot the picture of the ant. It took me fifteen minutes to find one on the Internet… but I did and here they are.

Have a passionate day. Go for the Gold today and enjoy what you can see or hear.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Proverbs 6: 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!