Nehemiah was is a pretty cool character in the Hebrew Scriptures. Here’s a guy who was a Hebrew that was serving the Persian ruler and heard that his homeland was in disrepair, neglect and was an embarrassment to the people of Yahweh. Scripture says that when Nehemiah heard of the desolation that was happening that moment back in Jerusalem, Nehemiah WEPT. He cried not for a couple minutes of sadness, but he wept for a LONG time. After this time of great sadness of this loss, Nehemiah did something – HE ACTED.
One of the things I continue to be more and more aware of is that I am not immune to having direction in my life. It’s one thing to have vision for a program or a job opportunity – it’s entirely another thing to have a vision or goal for my own life. In fact, it’s very possible to do all kinds of things for a group, organization, job, whatever, and never let who YOU are impact it in any kind of way. I don’t know about you, but that’s just not good enough for me. I want to make a difference and I want that difference to be connected deeply to who I am. I want what I’m passionate about as an individual to impact what I do in the society that I live, eat, drink, breathe, work and play in.
It’s hard to believe that the Simpson’s TV show has been airing for as long as it has. I remember when it came out and how there was such a backlash against this show featuring a rebellious boy, a know-it-all daughter and a drunk father figure. Ironically, in it’s 20 years, the Simpson’s have been praised for being the most religious show on TV. It has a stronger positive message of faith than dozens of other shows that have come and gone in recent TV land. Early on, one of Bart’s biggest phrases was “get a life man”. Shirts were made, bumper stickers posted on cars, posters hung on walls – the phrase was everywhere. As I reflect on this personal mission and vision of mine, I’m wondering if what I’m really asking myself, or more importantly – is God asking me, to “GET A LIFE!”
What kind of LIFE is God calling ME to enter into? How am I to bring what I’m passionate about to the world in which I live? How do I get a life that gives passion to all the things I find myself doing – whether I like them or not – and then how do I make steps forward in that life with what I’m so passionate about?
I think a great question to ask is actually a pretty simple one: HOW DO I WANT TO BE? Or maybe, how do I want to grow in my passion and vision for life? How do I want my faith to matter in my life? These are questions that Nehemiah asked himself. He was passionate about something and he chose to take this passion and incorporate it into the fullness of his life. For Nehemiah, this was freaky. He approached the king and could have been killed on the spot for his distraction or his request. Talk about getting a life!!!
This is an early step for a group of people who are visioning about being a kingdom people gathered to share and worship. Vision is both corporate and personal – what’s your vision? What are you Passionate about? How does this God-given passion infuse itself into our every day life? How do You want to grow?
Happy exploring!!!