[paSHən]

Dear Friend,

"Do what you are most passionate about."

What does that even mean. Just kidding, I know what it means. But when someone tells you this in response to your mid-college life crisis and you feel you must choose a major before you get kicked out of the University (FACT, they can kick you out*), "what does that even mean" seems like the appropriate response to say and to say with the appropriate amount of sass.

I know when people say this, they mean well but sometimes I wish this didn't sound so vague and cliche. I didn't know what I was passionate about in college. I liked a lot of things. I hoard collect a lot of things. But I would hardly say I'm passionate about Pez dispensers, bottle caps (not the candy. Definitely not the candy), ticket stubs, and other countries currencies. Or maybe I am. But they don't offer Bachelor of Arts in Pez or world currency, and these interests didn't help me pick a major with confidence. I changed several times due to the fear I was choosing wrong. But I didn't know what a wrong major really was and I didn't know what it would feel like to pick the right one or if feelings are involved at all.

May 17th, 2014 I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Communication. This way I could explain and communicate my thought process behind my several degree changes, my indecisiveness in life, and my lack of awareness when it came to my passions with certainty and effectiveness. It wasn't long after this I found out what I am passionate about. And I'm not sure how much of it has to do with my degree.

Jesus.
People.
Creating.

I couldn't simplify it to one but maybe because life wouldn't be life without all three.

One of my best friends wasn't a believer when I met him. He was up for anything and that is how he ended up at a Young Life summer camp. He had one friend and one crush going to camp and that was enough to get him to hear the Gospel for the first time. No previous experiences with Jesus, religion, bible teachings, etc. but he heard truth and responded "yes" to truth.

Another good friend of mind was raised in a Christian home - her dad is a pastor. I met her while serving at camp 2010. She loved Jesus and she put him in her speech, her drawings, and her music. It drew people in.

This one-of-my-best-friends met this another-good-friend-of-mine in May 2013. They saw each other 10 days of that summer, entered a relationship knowing (thinking) they would be apart for two years due to travel abroad plans, spent a year 5,125 miles away from each other, and now 7 months away from two years since first seeing each other, they are still together - growing closer to God and learning about Jesus.

I don't understand it. I would never do such a thing (never say never), but this is why I'm passionate about people and Jesus. Everyone has a story, unique to them and I love a good story. I'm passionate about Jesus because He makes the stories full of life. Only Jesus could change the heart of a kid the first time he hears the Gospel in preparation for the girl he will meet four years later so he will be able to lead her spiritually. Two different people, two different stories, two different backgrounds brought together by one God.

Lastly. I'm passionate about creating. It can be in any medium, I just want to create. I used to draw a lot. I painted once or twice, I've sculpted with clay, snapped some pictures, and now I also make films, but it wasn't the paint or the camera I loved but the finished product. I look at what I created and stand in awe. I believe I feel this way because I am made in the image of The Creator and He looks at the people He creates and stands in awe. Creation of the world is good but it wasn't until He created man that He said His creation is very good**.

I am more than excited that Sarah has asked me to help out with this blog for Young Life College, to share my thoughts and life with you all. This opportunity will allow me to experience all three of my passions since this community Young Life College has created is filled with people and Jesus and now I get to write for them. If you ever want to chat about these posts, life, Jesus, creating, or anything at all, feel free to come up to me on Tuesday nights and share a story or two.

in His grip,

Josh



Passion
[pas·sion]
[paSHən]
-noun: strong and barely controllable emotion.
-"a man of impetuous passion"

*This is in fact, not a fact.

**Genesis 1:31