SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

Finding the Root of Passion

We all strive in finding the root of passion find that passion or zeal in our own lives.
When you talk to someone with a dream, they usually tell it with passion. If you come across someone with a gift they like to share, they are considered passionate.
Did you know that the Latin root of passion is patis, which means suffering. Why on earth would passion and suffering be related? Then again the Passion of Christ was the largest suffering anyone could encounter.
Think of this week, the week we call Holy week. On Palm Sunday you likely heard the story called the Passion. There are performances and movies that depict the passion of Jesus. He truly did suffer and humble himself to become man, take on our sins and be crucified for us. Out of passion?
When we give of ourselves for others. Chase a dream through sleepless nights. Humbly serve our brethren. We too find our passion. It is through our dying unto ourselves that others may live.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion,
some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~ Maya Angelou
People in hospitals are called patients, also the root is patis , and they are those who are also suffering. When we show signs of patience we suffer in silence for others. All these have the same root but numerous meanings. The patience it takes as we chase down our passion in turn can bring

Are You Really Crushing It?

If you are like me you are pretty competitive. Okay maybe really really competitive at times. That’s a good thing right?
Like many people I am trying to get a few things done. Since I sit at a desk in a cubicle for my day job. I bought a FitBit Surge to improve my health. Replacing the FitBit Flex I had been using so I could better track my 10,000 steps. Crushing it right.. wrong! I am in a Facebook group where some people treat the 10,000 steps as a starting point.
I set a blogging goal for myself, even committed to my readers (you can see here). Although I control my own destiny I failed. Instead of blogging three times a week, I currently average …. that’s not crushing it. Sure my stats have improved with my consistency. Compared to other bloggers it is just a drop on the edge of the bucket. See not even enough to make a ripple.. so not yet crushing it.
Then there is school, yes I am in my eh hem forties and in school. Finishing what many of my friends and colleagues did a long time ago. I will graduate this May (God willing). Did I crush it .. nope.
I mean sure I have been on the dean’s list and president’s list every term since I went back. Sure I will finally have my degree after many years of blood sweat and alot of tears. I struggled.

Discovering Your True Passion

How do you know you are being called to your real passion?

No I don’t mean on your cell phone in the middle of the night. Your calling is going to sound different. But how do you know when you found your passion? That gravitational pull to do something bigger. The one that keeps you awake at night, and gets you up early. You will even skip meals, gatherings with friends and family to chase it down.

We all pass through life hoping to make a dent in the universe. Many of us will spend our whole life searching. Jumping from job to job, hobby to hobby. All meanwhile searching for meaning. A meaning, where not only are we making a living but we a living a life of purpose. Where you no longer hide your ambitions, because your audacious dreams are too big to silence any longer.

We like to think we were born to do something bigger and better. Whether it is to become a writer, lawyer, preacher or singer. No matter what it is there is a design for your passion. This design is a calling that you and only you can fill. Designed by the hand of God, our purpose is determined. Now what do you do?

“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Living our lives just to make ends meet. Many will let fear get in the way of their passion. Although they dream about it at night. Taking a leap is more than they can bargain. They would rather sit on the seashore watching all the boats go by than take a chance. How about trying to jump off that cliff and build your wings on the way down? How about today, better yet how about now?