Purpose is what you’re called to do; passion, what you’re compelled to do.

A mother’s love. There’s nothing like it. Don’t mess with momma bear and her cubs because her bond is undeniable. It’s unending. Unwavering. Unbreakable. A mother’s love is zealous. She’ll do anything, give anything, and forgive anything for her kids. It’s what she feels compelled to do because it’s what she feels called to do.

Like many dads, I adore my family. Next to faith, they’ll always be my priority. I have a role that Anna could never fill. But I’m not competing; I’m completing our family as no one else can. And that’s what God-honoring passion does – it completes God-given purpose like nothing else can. Sure, the word “passion” is overused or misused, but we’ll always feel empty if we lack it.

A quest with a zest

I desperately want that kind of zealous passion. A quest with zest. A zeal that’s deep down within me, not beat down into me. I can’t fully describe people who are purposefully courageous and passionately contagious, but it’s obvious. Purpose fills you up; passion fires you up.  And if God gives you a purpose, He’ll surely give you a passion to fulfill it. Therefore, the “Z” of my family’s 26 A-to-Z secret sauce of character qualities is Zealous – the passion of character.

Zealous:  The passion of character

What consumes you? What stirs your soul? What makes you desperate and dependent – the two prerequisites for zealous passion?

Zealous passion doesn’t burn up or burn out. It passes up the good to pass along the great. It loves the unlovely, believes the unbelievable, and forgives 70 x 7 times without keeping score. It surrenders to dreams without giving up on them. It’s your unconditional tenacity, no-matter-what, and never-say-die. It’s your “oh no, I will not” when tempted to fall and your “oh yes, I will” when challenged to rise.

Zeal doesn’t flip flop, fade, or rely upon yesterday’s victory for today’s joy. It yields faithful assurance and fruitful action (Hebrews 11:1, Galatians 5:22-23). It doesn’t just claim something matters; it has the conviction to see it through. Zeal is the proof that defines you.

What defines you?

If you asked your family and friends to pick three words to define you, what three words would they choose? When I resigned from my pastoral job, my church graciously celebrated my wife and me, gave me a priceless gift, and shared the three words that they felt described me. I’ll always cherish that day and those three words, one of which was, you guessed it, Passion.

If you picked three words to define all of my kids, passion would surely be one of those words. They have unique skills, but they all share a quality with their daddy – a zeal that’s impossible to miss and hard to dismiss. It’s not conjured up; it’s unleashed. My kids, though, couldn’t copy my passion; they had to discover their own. What they saw in me when they were young, they now crave as adults, albeit in their own ways . . . with their own quirks . . . with their own passions.

Hinder it or kindle it

You can rarely, if ever, make someone zealous, but your choices will do one of two things: you’ll hinder it or you’ll kindle it. Zeal can be doused like charcoal by isolating it, but you can stoke it by surrounding yourself with those “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). Paul too challenged us to “never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Some people are zealous for popularity, beauty, power, money, or fame, but those passions fade quickly. Instead, I pray for people and process. I’m naturally driven to learn, lead, strategize, prevent, solve, and instill. But with God’s grace, I want to be compelled by a far greater zealous passion – to lead myself and others to hear “Well done!” from God and family. My compelling passion may not impress some people, but it’s a deep, consuming zeal that stirs my soul.

My family’s 26 A to Z character qualities start with authenticity – the reality of character – and end with zeal – the passion that makes authenticity real. How does your character quality begin and end? For what consumes you in private will compel you in public . . .  like a mother’s love.

What’s your “Z” character quality?

Have you taken the challenge yet – to choose your own 26 A-to-Z character qualities? Click here for a Free Printable Workbook with instructions. Examples of “Z” character qualities include: Zany, Zealous, Zero-excuses, Zest, Zip, Zoned-in, Zoo, Zoomed-in, or pick your own.

Questions: If you asked your family to describe you in three words, what words would they pick? What “Z” word captures the essence of the character you want for your family, and why?