While walking last Tuesday morning I saw something I’ve been looking forward to for five months: a robin hopping through the forest. A mile down the road, I saw a flock of robins in a field. And as a special bonus, I caught a glimpse of a bluebird before he darted from his perch on a spindly tree into the woods.
I also discovered four-inch daffodil stems and a couple pink peony stalks buried under decaying leaves in my yard. My pussy willow is starting to bud. Spring has arrived. Thank you, Jesus! It’s been the yucky part of fall or winter since mid-October. There’s no season I enjoy more than spring.
If you’ve read my column before, you know I’m passionate about walking. I’ve been able to walk outside most days since March 10. It works wonders for my mood, especially on sunny mornings.
Everyone’s passionate about something: our children, pets, sports, work, exercise, gardening, painting, playing an instrument, shopping, traveling, reading, home maintenance, cars, movies, and so on.
Passion requires investment, primarily time and money. Consider how much money you’ve spent on gas and admission fees to your children’s or grandchildren’s sporting events. Or how much you paid to have a new granite countertop and tile flooring put into your kitchen. How much did you spend on that long-awaited trip to Florida? And dare I ask how much you spent on shots, food, and treats for your pets last year?
None of that matters when you really love something, though. I don’t like paying more than $50 for a pair of shoes. But if they’re walking shoes, I’ll drop a hundred bucks without thinking much about it. They’ve got to be high-quality, shock-absorbing shoes. Period.
But some people take passion to an entirely different level. Think about pro athletes. I’d love someone to calculate the hours these people spend running, lifting weights, stretching, and practicing before and during their careers.
And what about pro musicians? It’s the same idea, only it’s practicing chromatic scales, rehearsing songs, learning abdominal breathing, perfecting articulation, and so forth. It’s studying chords so you can improvise, and learning to sight read music. And spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on instruments, amps, voice lessons, or whatever else you’d need.
Now don’t get me wrong. I love music. I listen to my Amazon music playlists all day. Thank God for professional musicians. I just don’t have the stamina it takes to become a pro. And I do respect the dedication pro athletes put into their careers.
But most of us will never make it to the pros in any field. It’s just too demanding, wouldn’t you agree? And don’t forget the sacrifices they make, mostly in relationships: “Sorry, sweetie. Daddy can’t make it to your birthday this year. He’s got a game that day.” Or, “Mom, I’ve got a show that night. Sorry. I can’t come to your retirement dinner. You understand, right?”
Passion is a good thing if it’s channeled in the right direction and doesn’t become a god. You know what I mean: something more important to you than anything else, including the one true God. The Lord won’t stand for that, you know. He’ll take away anything that challenges His supremacy.
So before you walk your dog, practice your piano, clean out your flower beds, or wash your car, take time to pray and read your Bible. There is no greater return on an investment than eternal life.
If you’d like a couple hearty meals, you can invest an hour at these upcoming events: Fallowfield United Methodist Church is hosting lunch at Calvary United Methodist Church’s Lenten luncheon on March 27. The Reverend L.J. Stone of First United Methodist Church will be speaking, with Karen Rodgers providing special music. Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children.
Kennard United Methodist Church is having a lasagna dinner on March 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. in their fellowship hall. They’re requesting a donation of $8 for adults and $4 for children.
You can mark your calendars for another fundraising spaghetti dinner at Fallowfield United Methodist on April 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. The meal includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, beverages, and homemade pie. Donations will be used to help needy people in the Atlantic community.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!