When your Passion becomes a double-edged sword

Prologue

Cast your mind back to when you were growing up – what were you most passionate about? Ironically, I did not start out being passionate about education. However, back in the day, I was wise enough to see the link between lack of education and poverty. Unless you were extremely lucky, which was rare, illiteracy (which was a STIGMA in my growing-up years), destined you for poverty. Also, my position within my family hierarchy (last born) played a part in how I perceived ‘passion’. Imagine being the last in a family of eight, where my mother was the only female! And watch this – the age gap between the eldest and me was (and still is 21 years!). Yes, you heard aright! That is not all, I am only 2.5 years older than my oldest nephew!

I had strong parents and highly judgmental siblings, who made it possible for me to steer in the right direction, against the backdrop of a tough neighborhood in which I grew. While I had no choice but be in education, my childhood passion was a subconscious search for a connection with a power that was greater than I. I was born into a Muslim home, which meant in my days you were automatically an adherent. To please my parents, I practiced Islam and enjoyed (especially) the festive seasons, e.g. the one we referred to as the ‘big salah’ (Eid el Kabir). We used to ‘slaughter’ two rams (one for my dad and the other for my mum – both of blessed memory) to mark the occasion. I remember being angry every year because my big-hearted parents would give out like, 90% of the meat parts to neighbors. I recall too that neighbors who would have disagreed with my parents and not on speaking terms with them, always ensured that they made up as the festival approached…they did not want to miss out on the ‘largesse’!

I used to cry when the rams were about to be slaughtered because within the period we had them, they would have got used to me – they would look to me to save them as my dad prepared to slaughter them, especially our prize-fighter ram. Yes, we used to engage our rams in scuffles with other rams – that was the tradition! So, what was my passion? It was not education, which became a competition in my household, e.g. who was attending the best school, who was topping his class, etc. Education was my mother’s passion, and did she push me! What was my favorite all-time subject? None! However, in my O/L days, my highest score was consistently in History, while Economics took over in my A/L days. For a long time, I was a naturally gifted fine arts student, and I also loved to write. And I even went on to University to study the wrong course!

This shows that just as being a Muslim was not out of passion but because I was born into it, education was for me a safeguard against poverty…not a passion either. In terms of subjects I enjoyed interacting with, I could have naturally turned out as either a journalist or as an arts teacher. However, these were professions not appreciated by my society and therefore attracted a measly salary. But how could I connect with a higher being, if not through Islam? This question constantly lurked in my subconscious while I grew, but I did not have the freedom to explore it. I remember at age nine or so, I was negatively influenced by a slightly older neighbor to set up an ‘Ogun’ (god of iron) shrine in my part of our ‘backyard’. This was done in secret…my parents must not know! But where would I get a live dog to sacrifice to the god annually? I tried this route in emulation of an individual our community held in high esteem; he was a primary school headmaster, a catholic and a worshipper of ‘Ogun’. I believe I dismantled the shrine despite serious warnings from my older friend, of the ‘dire consequences’. When I genuinely found Christ 28 years ago (before then, I had tried some Pentecostal churches courtesy of ‘Christian’ friends), my passion started to truly emerge. I had come of age, independent and free to decide if I wanted to continue to please my parents by remaining a Muslim, or explore that crude, undeveloped passion that still lodged in my subconscious. I did not study Business Administration at university, because landing a job would have been onerous. I believed I could still be a philanthropist, which had always been my lifetime goal, but not a passion. So, what was my passion? The answer was always ‘Excellence’, which is aptly summed up in Colossians 3: 23 – 24 (sustained by Philippians 4:8).

Lessons from Daniel Have you ever wondered why Daniel was only inferred in the ‘Hall of Faith’ (Hebrews 11), while the likes of Jephthah, Barak and Rahab clearly got a mention? Where Did Daniel get the willingness to step into danger for the sake of the Lord? He was not self-sufficient but relied on God for strength, wisdom and courage. God rewarded Daniel with an excellent spirit and was preferred by king Darius above his administrative colleagues. Daniel so distinguished himself that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. The king was lucky to have an honest man like Daniel in his service. However, God exalted Daniel so he could be a shield and fortification for his people who were exiled like him. The Jewish race now had somebody in position of authority, who would take up their cause and speak for them to the king.

Out of envy, Daniel’s colleagues tried to look for a fault in him to have him discredited before the king – after all, he was a foreigner! Is it not tragic that even when God exalts you, others will try to pull you down? Daniel was faithful and led a life of excellence; it was therefore difficult for his enemies to fault him. But wait a minute – have you read Genesis 6:5-6? This verse sums up what Daniel’s colleagues did next – they convinced the king to sign into law a decree, that whoever prayed to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to the king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.

Not only that, the king was made to ensure that the law could not be altered or repealed. Has your faith ever been used against you in your wider family, workplace, neighborhood, etc.? Welcome to 2 Timothy 3:12! Now, watch this (Luke 9:25 -26)! When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he did not bother wasting his time trying to sway men whose minds were already made up – they wanted him dead! Also, Daniel did not go to the king to complain, but opted to go home to his upstairs room, where he ensured his windows were open. He got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before; he was known to pray thrice daily. Daniel’s enemies knew his routines and went to his place at a time he prayed – “Yes, we’ve got him! What more evidence do we need?” Why did Daniel not worship God secretly- would it have been considered a sin if he did? How could Daniel be an advocate yet secretly live in fear? He could not afford to be cowardly by virtue of his stature and where God (only) had placed him. There were people who looked up to Daniel, and during this pivotal moment, his response would potentially impact them (Matthew 18:6).

Aside from the foregoing, Daniel’s conviction in God was too deep for him to compromise his faith. But a controversial law was about to take away the life of the best man in the king’s administration! Was it not ironic that a great king, who highly favored and esteemed Daniel, was powerless to save him? Was it also not an irony that in the king’s powerlessness, the only weapon he lad left was prayer (an unbeliever)? Listen to him (Daniel 6:16) as Daniel was being thrown into the den of lions: “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Note that the king did not say, “occasionally”, but “continually”. Knowing that he had just ‘taken the life’ of a brilliant, honest, hard-working and innocent man, the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting and in seclusion. Not only that, he had a ‘forced night vigil’ for Daniel! Why did the king dash to the lions’ den at the first light of dawn? Could he have had faith in Daniel’s God? He called out to Daniel and acknowledged his God as living. But what an insult from somebody who had temporarily believed in God, to assume that God was incapable of rescuing Daniel (verse 20).

Once more notice when he called out to Daniel, the king acknowledged that Daniel ‘continually’ served God! Why did God spare Daniel’s life? Daniel alluded to his innocence and impeccable service to the king as the reasons God shut the mouths of the loins. As for those who conspired to have Daniel killed, they and their families (wives and children) served as meals for the same lions they had hoped would eat up Daniel. I am not quite comfortable though that women and children should have been treated that way – could Daniel not have been a Joseph in this matter? Is that why he is merely inferred in Hebrews 11? The greatest example? Read Luke 23:33 – 34.

Epilogue In your pursuit of excellence, your natural talent will evolve. Daniel had integrity and his word was powerful. Daniel’s people depended on his integrity. Daniel’s worship of God aligned with his character. Daniel’s passion for God deeply moved him, and it stirred and compelled him into action. Daniel’s passion for God was at the core of his excellence. He was flawless and impeccable, yet his passion became a double-edged sword in the hands of both the king and Daniel’s enemies. For Daniel, good was not good enough hence his high standards distinguished him from his peers, who became jealous and plotted to kill him. Daniel believed that God could deliver him from his enemies hence the boldness displayed in continually praying to Him with his windows open. Daniel also did not blame the king afterwards – he in fact prayed for him! Daniel had been a willing supporter of the king, making himself readily available for service in his administration. Daniel continued to serve and excel even after the lions’ den ordeal – he was undeterred. Daniel’s excellence will forever be read about as long as the Bible continues to be in circulation. So, what have you learnt from the story of Daniel? By the way, I later learned that our much revered childhood figure abandoned 'Ogun' worship and became a strong catholic catechist. As I stated at the start of this post, my passion is ‘a strive for excellence’ in anything I do, and like Daniel, it has always been a double-edged sword for me. Just imagine what my story could read like… (Galatians 6:9).