Discover Your Passions Through a Funeral!

      Admittedly we seldom use "passions" and "funeral" in the same sentence, but there may be good reason to put them together. Sitting in a funeral not long ago, I was struck by what was said and what was not said.
      The 'not said' part was mainly about the positions and accomplishments of the person. What they did was mentioned, but more as a list...served as...worked for...lived in..., and of course, survived by. Wow...a life's work, much of it a significant contribution with great impact, reduced to less than a two-minute report!
      By contrast, the 'said' part was about who they were. It was about how they had touched the lives of the people around them.   It was this part that made up the larger portion of what was said during the funeral. Friends, co-workers and family members, one by one, came to the microphone and talked about what this person meant to them.
      Naturally, I began to think, "What will people say about me?" I'm sure we've all had such thoughts, and probably at funerals, just like my experience. Will my life be captured in a two-minute report, or will there be something said about my life having a positive impact on those around me?
      It seems to me that this train of thought could be helpful in discovering who we really are, how we are wired and what will bring us satisfaction in how we invest the remaining years of our life. Or, stating it another way...what are our passions?
      Here are some suggestions on how to give some responsible thought to investing ourselves in the future:
         1. Picture yourself speaking at the funerals of three
              people who have influenced your life. Write some
              brief notes on what you might say.
         2. Next, imagine you are able to hear people speaking
              at your own funeral. What do you hope to hear them
              say?
         3. Now, write out the qualities and values reflected in
              what you have stated so far.
         4. Next, consider what changes or additions should be
              made in your life in order to live out these qualities
              and values, and write them down.
         5. Finally, determine two or three next steps you can
              take to realize those passions.

Knowing the qualities and values that are important to you is one way to reveal your passions. Passion comes from the inner desires God has built into each of us. When we are in tune with them, we are able to choose avenues of work and service that fulfill those desires, and make a worthwhile impact on the lives of those around us.
So...find a funeral to attend soon....hopefully not your own!