Old Friend, New Passion

Today, I met up with a friend whom I hadn't seen for a year. He is from South Africa, and is passing through the area on his way to work at a camp in the Midwest. We caught up on the "regular stuff", but then I proceeded to ask him about what was really happening in his life.

He began to tell me about a passion that he has had since he was a child: to make movies. Although he had been involved in Youth Ministry for the past year, he knew it was time to get back to his first love. And get back he has!

After working with a large broadcast network in South Africa and gaining valuable experience, he has stepped out on his own and formed his own production company. Already he has completed a large project for distribution and the contractor has ordered two sequels, with a possibility of a production in the Middle East after that.

What captured me the most was not that he had accomplished so much in a short period of time, but rather that he was so full of excitement and life as he related how his life had "fallen into place every step of the way". What he was sharing was not a story, but rather a journey.

I put my hand on his shoulder and encouraged him to continue to pursue his dreams, to fulfill his calling and to be courageous. I reminded him that a life of faith is a life of living one step at a time, as God reveals His plan to us as we walk it out daily.

And I prayed for him. I prayed that not only would his art be seen in his work, but also his heartbeat would be felt.

I came away from that meeting encouraged. I was encouraged because I saw a friend who was using his creativity and gifting to passionately live out his life and fulfill what he was created to be.