Student Leadership 501: Passion Sample

Day Two — Passion is Contagious

There is something about passion that pulls us in.

We’ve all had that one friend who somehow always gets everyone to go along with some new idea (or scheme, depending on the friend). It could be starting a band, joining a club, or raising money for a new charity they found. It might not really even be your thing, but give them 10 minutes and next thing you know, you’re handing out flyers and looking up guitar lessons on YouTube.

Passion is contagious, which makes it powerful, and it can be dangerous when used without wisdom. A guy named Oswald Chambers once said, “An unguarded strength is a double weakness.” Ifpassion is fuel, then you’ve got to be careful to pour it on the right things, otherwise you risk an explosion. But used properly? Well, that’s when the impossible starts to look possible.

During his lifetime, Walt Disney was able to convince various artists, writers, actors, and producers to trust him and, more importantly, invest in him. You might be thinking, Well, yeah, it’s Disney! But Disney wasn’t always Disney, you know? At some point, he was just another person with a wild dream. Same with David. Before he became King David or the boy who slayed Goliath, he was just another kid watching sheep and delivering food. Before these men became known as extraordinary they looked… well, ordinary.

So what was it about these two that had people ready to drop everything to follow them? Their passion.

Their passion didn’t just fuel their own actions — it inspired those around them to move too. To take a chance. To side with the underdog. To dream beyond what the eye could see.

Think of the most passionate person you know. This could be a preacher, a friend, a teacher, or a relative. How does their passion inspire you? When has their passion motivated you to do something different? When have you followed passion without wisdom? What were the results? How are your passions motivating those around you right now? Is your passion for Jesus pulling people towards Him?