The art of shared joy.

I've lately found it difficult to illustrate the urging on my heart to go travel this world and seek out God's people. I have this weight upon my soul, but I can't seem to articulate it the way I wish I could. It is because I sometimes do not know how to explain my passion to people who may not share that same passion, so I tell myself to veil it in fear of looking foolish pursuing ambitions that to many may simply look like meager daydreams. It is perhaps because the concept of passion has become a bit skewed these days. So I began conversing with many wise souls about what passion means. To be honest, there was a small part of me that wanted to make sure this longing was more than just a longing and was indeed a passion. 

After days and even weeks of contemplation, I began to understand passion in a new way-a way that I want to recount to those who want to listen, for it changed the way I view the world and consequently the way I view my life.

1). Passion fuels joy. As we pursue our passions, we encounter joy. Conceivably what we are missing in this world could be more people who encounter and understand true joy.

2). Passion means something different to each soul. It may be the passion of one soul to watch his or her child experience life and love. It may be the passion of another soul to pursue music. Another soul may experience passion through community outreach. As each soul seeks his or her passions, we must be careful not to squander the passions of others lest we squander their encounters with joy.

3). Passion does not supercede our obligation to love. Nor does passion necessarily mean the same thing as love. As we pursue our passions, however, we ought to continue loving each person that crosses our paths.

Through these contemplations, I became aware of the beauty of not only sharing my passions with others but also sharing in the passions of others. I began to understand that passion is a piece of the art of shared joy. Consequently, a new conception stirs within me. This is the part I don't want anyone to miss:

Because I believe so firmly and completely in pursuing passions, I'm making a request.

Share your passions with me.

I find passion to be one of the most beautiful qualities in a person-so beautiful that the thought of passions unshared is breaking my heart. Let me share in your joy. For I not only have a desire to know people's passions, but to see them fulfilled, as there is where our soul meets fullness of joy. 

"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire."- St. Catherine of Sienna