I have two big folders of artwork from college that I’ve never thrown away. I was in college at Gardner-Webb University (a wonderful small Baptist college in North Carolina) from 1996-2000.

I recently remembered two charcoal sketches I did in drawing class. They were of Mary and Joseph, with words from Christmas hymns scrawled in the background.

These are very similar to the image I created for the poem about the woman at the well a few weeks ago (note: I ordered prints of this and will list in the shop soon).

That made me think about all the things I was passionate about as a young college students, free to explore my passions and interests (in between the trials of Trigonometry and Biology). I fell in love with color and paintings and expressing myself through art. I loved words and wrote poetry (I was an English writing major with a minor in Art).

I became interested in justice and wrote a paper on human trafficking in Thailand and another titled “How to be actively anti-racist.”

I loved the Bible and enjoyed an expanding and deepening faith. My senior thesis was titled, “‘This is my Story’: Kathleen Norris Writes Theology.”*

It strikes me that 20 years later and about to turn 43, I’ve been rediscovering that girl in the last few years. It’s as if all those passions God planted in me were dormant, but not dead.

Living things sometimes shut down ahead of adverse events, like winter. Others living things shut down in response to adverse circumstances.

It’s common in nature for seeds to go dormant and not be ready to flower and bloom until the best Spring conditions. It’s only the harsh economy of a planting schedule that expects seeds to bloom on command.

There are definite benefits to dormancy. A hibernating animal is preserving itself for a new season. Leaving a field dormant is a natural fertilizer, allowing the soil to replenish itself with nutrients.

Nor does dormant mean diminished. A dormant volcano still has the stuff to wreak havoc.

We are living things too, with limited attention, limited energy, and limited time. For seasons we may have to tuck God-given passions away like seeds, awaiting better conditions and chances for survival.

In my post-college years, a lot of times was spent working and investing in a career. The early years of motherhood and then homeschooling provided a very small window for exploring art and ideas (but I did start my blog and shop when my girls were still young). Other years of struggle, physical and emotional, left little margin for creativity. I often felt and feel that tension even now.

I think there is wisdom in “following your passions,” but I think we have a fuller vision of human flourishing as Christians. All passions–godly or fleshly–are fodder for sacrifice. Real human flourishing happens under the Spirit’s gracious direction.

But I suspect an even deeper truth. What if some of our passions lie dormant our whole natural lives? Is that the end? Do our bucket lists go unchecked? Again, a Christian vision is more expansive. What if eternity held untold potential in becoming who God created us to be? Maybe those seeds of passion will bloom in unimaginable beauty and glory for eternity, under the watchful care and cultivation of Jesus.

We may look back, as I do no on the girl I was 20 year ago, and see that the seed of of who we were was actually a promise of something better to come.

I’d love to hear your experiences with this. Can you relate to this at any level? Leave me your thoughts in the comments.

Speaking of passion, I’m releasing a collection of original art here in the shop next Thursday. I poured lots of joy and creativity into each peace and had a delightful time making them. The collection is all about the bright spots we have found in these dark days.

I hope you’ll enjoy them as well starting next Thursday. And if you’d like, you’ll have the chance to have one in your own home!

COPYRIGHT/USAGE: All writing, artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. Please do not repost or resell on another website. I’m happy for you to use my coloring pages and other printables for home, school, and ministry. If you share content, please link back to the original post. Thank you!

SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER

Romans 8:6: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

1 Corinthians 15:52: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.“

1 Corinthians 15:42: “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.“

*If you’re at all interested, the main thesis of my paper was this: “Norris writes a theology that breaks with tradition through a narrative theology that incorporates the experiences of women. Norris walks away from the traditional journey pattern, choosing instead the use the walk model. The walk model is true to women’s experiences and brings to narrative theology the values and ways of living traditionally attributed to women: mutuality, connection, caring, awareness of community, awareness of cyclic time, and focus on the daily. Norris shows how these values are needed in today’s society which concentrates on individualism without the balance of mutuality. Norris is also able to write with an honesty traditionally prohibited to women. Norris’s narratives free both men and women, and God, from gender constraints. Her narratives accomplish the important task of showing how one can live the Christian live.” Note: I am not at present prepared to defend this thesis, but such it was in the year 2000.