Passion Sees Beyond

Last night I visited Hospice of Dayton to sing Christmas carols with some incredible women from my bible study. I'm also a regular volunteer at a nursing home in Dayton. With every encounter this passion of mine grows stronger and continues to advance my dream (details to come).

Often referred to as “the elderly” or “old people” because of this thing called age that measures our time here on earth. I’m still not sure how I feel about society’s need to label for contextual understanding. It takes away from the beauty of a unique individual or situation that can only be experienced, not labeled.

What do you see?

On the outside there may be wrinkles and trouble getting around, but I don’t see old. I see a life full of living, wise in all her experiences. I see those moments of falling in love and broken hearts to getting married and having a family.  That time we snuck out or stayed up all night laughing – we are no different. She's just ahead of me in life. All the things I’ve either done or am about to experience.

We all get one life to live. Every moment is fleeting. Just yesterday I was learning to tie my shoes. Tomorrow I’ll be that old person. The old person left in a nursing home. The old person that some forget about. The old person whose body can’t do the things it once did. But inside, there is a lot of living, the same heart and spirit of that 20-something from years passed.

Passion sees beyond...
... labels
... stereotypes
... fear
... doubt
... obstacles

Passion has the ability to create hope for the hopeless. Passion created homeless shelters. Passion created drug rehab. Passion created community outreach. The passion of Christ is what saved all of us sinners.

What will you create with your passion?