In 1951, "A Street Car Named Desire" hit the movie screens starring Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. History now considers this film to be one of the all time classics of cinema. It was and it is, but I am not wanting to discuss the movie as much as the thought the title of the movie brought to my mind this morning. When one thinks of the word...desire and what the word desire means, it prompts a myriad of inspirational thoughts in my mind. The word desire is a noun which means, an inclination to want things or the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state. To desire is to want. To desire something will set in motion a plethora of machinations within us to set about to obtain that inward urge or need. Desire is truly set within the appetites of the human condition. No doubt desire and the word, hunger are mutual in their meanings and pursuits. But desire, at least to me, seems to have a deeper spiritual meaning. It is not just a want, but it is a deeper 'inner man' psyche of the persona of who we really are and where we really want to go.
The cliche, 'Where there is a will, there is a way.' also seems apropos when discussing the nature of desire. As a child I can remember the day when my step-dad quit smoking cigarettes. He walked in from work and said he quit smoking and from that day on he never smoked another cigarette again. He told all of us that he threw his last pack of cigarettes in the trash can and he was done. No gimmicks, no drugs, no hypnosis...nothing but sheer desire to quit smoking surged him forward to obtaining his goal. This incident of my childhood, to this day, still points to the incredible power of a person's desire! Henry Hazlitt said, 'A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means.' I have witnessed over the years many seemingly impossible things get accomplished merely because there was a will to get it done or a desire to make a way. It seems clear to me, if you cannot tap into the desire of a person, then it is almost impossible to move them. Andrew Carnegie seemed to feel the same way...'There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb himself.' But if you can fuel the fire of their desire, somehow connect what is to be accomplished to match and attach itself to their desires...well, its almost a forgone conclusion it will get done. The scripture says in Proverbs 18:1, "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."
Too many people try to look outside of themselves for their driving motivation, when the reality of their world truly lies within themselves. We can attend seminars, self help classes, and even sit under anointed preaching, but if our own desire is not sparked, then most of what we hear will merely remain hollow words of little use. Simply put, we are the street car named desire. All of us, day in and day out, reveal who we are by what we do with our bodies and our spirits. Clearly, a person shows what he is by what he does with what he has. The Apostle Paul said that we should '...run that we may obtain'. So many of us are running but our runs are in wild abandonment and without vision. We run to and fro without knowing where we are going. "It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." ~ Somerset Maugham We burn both ends of the candle until our life waxes dull of energy and vision. We use our talents to no avail because our true passion of life is locked away in some foggy childhood dream. Don't get me wrong, talent is good, but there is nothing like a good ole fashion shot of desire. When the fire of our desire is lit, then profound things can begin to happen. Eric Hoffer said it best, "It sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents."
What is it YOU truly want...or should I say, what do you truly desire? Where lies your passion? The scripture tells us that wherever our treasure is, there shall your heart be also. (Matt 6:21) It is time we begin to search within ourselves and not only find our passion, but reawaken that dormant desire to live life to its fullest. Life is too fragile and time is far too precious to be squandered under the blanket of victim hood. Self help author and speaker, Napoleon Hill said, "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat."Is it possible the results of your life you feel are not the fault of those around you or by mere happenstance? If you are reading this today...I want you to know there is more to life than what you have settled for. The Almighty God has not ordained His creation to weakness, but would have that all His creation would be endued with POWER! (Acts 1:8) Today is the day you take a step out of weakness and into the power of your passion! Find your passion, and you will find your life!
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