Displaying Christian Passion

Passion is an interesting thing. Easily mishandled, frequently misused, but necessary for any level of true accomplishment. It is put up on display for others to see, but is extremely difficult, (or in many cases impossible) to teach.

Only a shell of a life can exist without It

From personal experience, I find it easier to discuss It through the portrayal of a lesser Passion. The Pianist performs for captivated audiences (at least that is his hope). They sit in awe delving into the emotive state he has created for them through his outpouring. They listen with the intensiveness only attributed to a willing crowd. His mastery of the art controls them, and they sit in wonder of that which he has created. Nonetheless, they hold only a fraction of the art within them. The carefully planned melody can drive them to tears (if they only try hard enough), or the booming fifths evoke the primordial fighting spirit in them.

But they don’t entirely understand It

To him each note holds its own specific power. He understands It, because he has crafted it from the individual parts. More than hear, he can feel. More than comprehend, he can understand. His investment has come back with great reward, because only now he sees It. Highly personal, a part of who he is. The crescendos and diminuendos a reflection of who he is. In a sense, some duty has been performed. He thinks “maybe just one was inspired to perform the art… now another must take It up inside of him.”

However, he wishes they understood It

And yes, even music (as all things do) relates itself to the realm of Christendom. Such Passion exists in the personage of Christ, that we could scarcely call ourselves Christians without holding It as a by-product as that Decision. For those who understand, It pushes Itself up from the hidden places in response to those who do no know Him. We can spend all our waking moments giving instruction as to the Christian condition, but still only permeate the head rather than the heart.

We just wish they could understand It

Passion is a thing only transmitted through shared lives, not solely shared knowledge. It is for this reason that the pews are filled with those that have belief, but do not Believe. And so we strive. We fill the air with our meticulously formulated didactic, but lack the conformity in our lives to allow them to understand. (Or at least, this is the case for you if you are anything like me.) Letting them understand the Passion of the Christ comes through a coming alongside; a sharing of lives and willingness to present oneself, soul exposed.

Only Passion Itself can teach them to understand It