(This is the tenth installment of a twelve part series on passion.)
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
The subtitle of Q4NP is “Be Different. Make a Difference.” Therefore, I’m always on the lookout for those who are interested in making a difference.
The question is “Different in what way?”
I’m sitting in a downtown coffeehouse/lunch spot for the first time as I write this. It’s a neat little place and – like most coffeehouses it seems – a little eclectic. I’ll definitely be back.
Each of the two employees are interesting and eccentric. I’m already fascinated by the woman with a big smile who made my sandwich in a cowboy hat. I’d like to know her story. The guy that worked the register has more holes in his ears than my grandma’s pin cushion. He did a great job serving me.
I noticed that they had wristbands at the cash register that read, “Different is Good.” Different in what way?
A few moments ago, another guy (obviously a friend) came in with a box full of rainbow flags for the store to display for this weekend’s annual gay pride parade. I listened as they discussed the parade and the pre-parade preparations.
As I couldn’t help overhearing their conversation, I thought about the effort that groups like his exert to make a difference. They seek power. Power in numbers. Power in culture. Power in politics. Power in media.
One of the goals of their work is that their passion will produce power.
I’m in a small group that seeks power as well. My group consists of people who are passionate about God and His grace. My group believes in the transforming power of God. Those in my group who are powerful are also passionate. But even within my group, there are various definitions of what “different” looks like.
Some people in my group want to make the world different by legislating morality. They’ll be protesting at the parade Saturday, I’m sure. Other people in my group think every believer should be rich. They preach a gospel that says if your faith is strong enough, God will give you a six-figure income. Still others in my group are content to stay in their holy huddles and keep the good news to themselves.
I try to avoid those sub-groups of my group.
You can look at pretty much any group of activists out there and see how their passion produces power, e.g., Republicans, gay rights organizations, or Muslim extremists. If you look in a history book, you’ll see that the people who acquired power over the years were passionate.
This is another reason why passion is important. Passion has the power to make a difference.
My group started with the passion of a small group about 2000 years ago. In a short span of time, the Bible says that the disciples turned the world upside down. I’d say the early disciples of Jesus were passionate and powerful. Wouldn’t you agree?
Passion can lead to power. Power can lead to change. It can make things different. The question is what are you passionate about and what do you want to make different?
The goal here is to help others live simply with purpose. Simple faith. Simple living. Simple giving.
What power is your passion producing? Hopefully, it’s the power to make a difference.
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