Student Leadership 501: Passion Sample

Day Four — Passion is Not Limited by Time

Walt Disney never saw his beloved Disney World open. After decades spent planning and dreaming, he passed away in 1966. His passion project wouldn’t open to the public until five years later.

David, too, had a dream, and he too would not live to see it come to pass. During his time as king, David longed to build God’s temple. He made detailed plans only to realize he would never live to see it built. Remember when we said passion will take you further than any position? David’s passion fueled him to continue pursuing the building of God’s temple, even if he wasn’t the one who would be positioned to build it. Rather than quit, David passed on his plans to Solomon, his son. Thanks to the detailed plans and big dreams of his father, Solomon went on to complete the temple.

Passions don’t always follow our expectations. We tend to believe the dreams and passions we have right now will be just for that — right now. But what if your passion isn’t just for you?! What if the passion God has put inside of you isn’t meant to die with you? If you partner with God in pursuing your passions, there’s a strong possibility you might not even see the full effect your life has on this world.

Both David and Walt Disney didn’t just lead with passion — they laid a solid foundation as a result of their passion. The temple (known as Solomon’s Temple) went on to hold the Ark of the Covenant and served as a place for the Israelites to communicate and connect with God. To this day, it is still a topic of both awe and mystery among historians and biblical scholars. And Disney World? Even if you haven’t been there, you have definitely heard of the “Happiest Place On Earth.” Even though Disney never saw it open, Disney World is now the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of over 58 million people!

The passions God gives us are not limited to us, and they are certainly not limited by time.

Go back to your list of passions. As you look over what you have written, start praying over each one — and pray big. Pray God will use you and your passion to lead the people around you and influence the people who will come after you!