The high school baseball team was on a winning streak and that was a big deal. It was a small town where high school sports were a big deal, with the inspired passion and the sort of devotion that could only be found in a small rural community.

Where do you draw the line? When we use that phrase, we are usually being asked to clarify our boundary, so let me be more specific. Where do you draw the line between your love and the rest of the world?

Whenever there is a catastrophe, big or small, you can count on sweet, kind, well-intentioned people to send their love. Social media is full of “I am sending you love” posts. I am touched and inspired by the spirit of that desire. But I want us to stop doing it. Please. It doesn’t actually make sense, and may in fact be doing more harm than good.

In the book Magic of the Soul, Patrick Harbula said “Each individual has a unique role through which they support the evolution of the planet and of the human species. The expression of purpose through one’s life is possibly the highest aspect of the magic of the soul.”

The universe doesn’t speak English. It speaks passion and intention. Let me try that again. A lonely person can take a dozen classes on how to attract the perfect mate. They can read every book, attend every workshop, practice every technique. But unless and until they stop coming from a place of loneliness, they either won’t meet anybody or the people they DO attract will make them wish they hadn’t. Sound familiar? This is a universal truth.

Having a passion for life happens when we get in touch with the eternal flame burning within, illuminating the path of our existence with purpose, enthusiasm, and zest. Our passion is our profound and deeply personal connection to the world around us, in its wholeness. It is driven by an unwavering commitment to embrace every moment with joy and determination. Passion infuses even the most mundane tasks with a sense of meaning, turning ordinary experiences into extraordinary opportunities. It ignites a spark that propels us forward, encouraging us to pursue our dreams and release our fears.

Are you living your life more as a human being dipping your toes into spirituality, or as a spiritual being immersed in the experience of being human? The latter is our deepest longing, the former our likeliest reality.

Many years ago, my wife Jenny and I started a storefront church. We’d gotten married, moved into our first apartment, and were expecting our first child, so it seemed like a natural next step. I’m sure that sounds like a joke, but what’s really funny to me is how natural the whole thing felt to us. We had no money, no time, and no idea what we were doing.

Two things I’ve learned through experience to never attempt are taming the tresses of an overgrown bougainvillea and trying to mediate a fight between two girls over a boy. Both often result in scratches that could have been avoided by letting nature take its own course.