The Word "Passion"

In recent weeks the word "passion" has come to my mind. First, from a movie I had not seen before, and second, from a book I recently purchased.


The movie is Jane Eyre, and no, I had never read the book or seen the movie in all of my 61 years!It was by chance that my friend, Kathy, sent it home with me Christmas week, along with several other movies she enjoyed. It was the passion of communication between Mr. Rochester and Jane that captured my attention. I have replayed the tape a number of times, skipping through the movie entirely, except for the dialogue between those two. Passion is the word that keeps jumping out at me.I'm just not talking about sexual desire. Passion goes way beyond that.


Then, just the other evening, I began Amy Gaither Hayes new book, "A Collection of Wednesdays." The first chapter is titled, "Passion." She writes: "The word passion has lost much of its original fire, but it continues to burn in me . . . Like many Americans, I associated passion exclusively with sex . . . When I studed for my MFA in acting, Paul Steger explained that people who live with passion about their lives, their work and their relationships were the kind of people he sought out . . . They are the only [people] with something going on behind the eyes." Amy continues, ". . . living with passion--true passion--requires living with pain . . . A life of passion also contains space and quiet."

The Passion of Christ is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion. The Crucifixion of Jesus is an event central to Christian beliefs.

A number of years ago I was asked what my passion is. My answer was writing. And it continutes to be my passion. I have to write. I need to write. It's what I've been called to do.

I think I'm going to enjoy Amy's new book. The chapters are all one word, such as "Books, Mentor, Wisdom, Rest and Calling." And I just ordered my own copy of Jane Eyre because I know I will be drawn to that passion of dialogue again.

What is your passion? Does it take center stage in your life? Do you pursue it with intensity and deep interest?

Yes, passion is definitely in my mind, cheering me on to do what I've been called to do! What about you?


One morning early last week, I caught this snap of a February sunrise. The sky was amazing. I filtered it with a poster edge and like the results.