Hopelessly, Ridiculously, Passionately....

I have recently started reading "No Compromise" by Melody Green, the story of Keith Green's life journey. It has gotten me thinking about what is really important in life. Granted, I am still in the beginning of the book where Keith is still searching for answers to his spiritual longings. But something about his life not long before he died is what keeps sticking out to me. I didn't know the man personally, but I know his music. So much of his heart is in the lyrics to his songs. Never have I been so convicted while listening to music as I have while listening to any one of the songs written by Keith Green. He was a man very obviously longing after God's own heart, and very obviously distressed with the Christian world around him. And rightly so.

As I continue to find myself being distressed with things I see in this world also, I pray that distress never goes away. The moment I find myself being okay with everything I see going on around me is the moment I have forgotten everything that is of importance in life. I don't want to be the majority. I want to stand out. I want to be hopelessly, ridiculously, and passionately in love with the man who is God, Jesus Christ. My hope is for everyone else in this world to find that same hopeless, ridiculous, passionate love, with the man who is God, as well. If only they could experience Him the way He intended them to.

Where Do Our Passions Lie?

According to some, I am very "passionate" about certain things in life. According to others, I may simply come across as rude and harsh rather than "passionate". One thing that really bothers me is how passionate people are about sports. I have been told it is highly rude of me to speak about my frustration on this topic since many families really enjoy sports and it might come across poorly for me to say how I truly feel about this topic. But others could argue the same about my own passions in life. Granted, I'm not passionate about sports, but I am definitely passionate about a great many things. I'm passionate about trying to help people to see how wrong abortion is, and the fact that it is murder. I am passionate about the typical Christian's lack of concern for others around them, including the homeless and hungry we see on a daily basis. I am passionate about the fact that it is very disheartening for people to call themselves Christians, and then not act like a Christian. This list could go on forever.

Aside from all of those passions, I would say the thing that I'm passionate about that would make me most like a sports fan is photography. Granted I'm not near as passionate as some, just as not all sports fans are as passionate as others. But regardless, there are similarities there. I have no right to get frustrated with people who seem to be more concerned with and involved in sports than they do the dying soul of a person going to hell. For I am no better than they.

It should not matter to me what people are passionate about, it should only matter to me that they are being MORE passionate about Christ and His great commandment for our lives.

Are we (myself included) really and truly giving the majority of our attention to the life we have after this one, and making sure we spread this news to others? Or are we spending the majority of our time enjoying the temporary pleasures of this world?