This past couple of weeks, I have been asking myself, “What am I passionate about?” So many things in life give me zeal, purpose, and enthusiasm. But as I pondered this theme more deeply, I searched for the answer that really touches my heart.
I remember reading a biography of Bob Pierce, the man who started World Vision International. He said, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” He was so passionate about helping children and the poor that his work has now become a worldwide phenomenon.
I am a simple person, a mother of two teenagers, a wife, a student, a daughter, a development worker. . . . What am I passionate about? What drives me and gives me a sense of purpose in my life?
If I had to answer in one sentence then I would say, “I am passionate about the need and development of mind, body, and spirit.” First, I am concerned with my own personal need for feeding and caring for these three aspects of my life.
As I take care of myself, I am increasingly passionate about helping others take care of their mind, body, and spirit. It is not one aspect that motivates me but the balance of all three.
What do I mean by this?
I have often seen people being passionate about only one aspect of life—the physical body or the spiritual self or the mental. They may work so hard to take care of their personal being that they neglect the other parts. Of course, physical needs such as food, shelter, and clothing are very important but there is a bigger need than just eating and drinking. Let me explain one by one below:
Mind
I am passionate about helping people meet their mental needs. By mental, I mean the intellect, emotions, and thoughts. We need to feed our minds with things that nourish our intellect and emotions and make us wise and thoughtful. We should strive for engaging our minds in learning, analyzing, and critical thinking. We also need to strive toward becoming emotionally intelligent.
Body
As a development worker, I am very passionate about this sector of life. Whether it is taking care of the personal body through exercise and healthy food or taking care of the needs of the poor and oppressed, one should not neglect this area of life. We need to be loving and kind to ourselves as well as attentive to the physical needs of others.
Spirit
This is the area I often see either neglected or given too much emphasis. Of course, as human beings, each one of us has a deep spiritual need. Our hearts are empty without the relationship we were designed to have with the one who created us. Nothing can satisfy us, give us purpose, if we do not know our maker. The greatest problem of mankind is sin. Our sin problem needs to be addressed in order to have a relationship with our creator God.
Many people hesitate to talk about God, thinking it will create controversy. Others just want to take care of this spiritual need and fail to address physical or emotional needs.
In my opinion, the first and foremost need of mankind to be fulfilled should be spiritual, then other needs must be met as well. A balanced approach to development requires workers to see how someone’s life is going in terms of all their needs—spiritual, physical, and mental. I believe the social need for relationships with others belongs in the physical-needs sector. People first need to make their relationship right with the maker and then with the people around them.
So, what am I passionate about?
I am passionate about helping myself and others meet these three aspects of the needs that every human being has. Let our spiritual life be fulfilled, so we can put our physical, emotional, social and mental needs in their proper perspective and meet them accordingly.
Ramila Karmacharya is from the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, a small beautiful country in South Asia, known as home to Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Ramila has two teenage sons. She runs a trekking company alongside her husband. She is also involved in a variety community development projects.
Hello Ramila – I’m so glad you wrote this piece for Red Tent Living! I struggle with this in my own life. The fleshy part of my life always wants to run the show, it seems. And the spiritual part of my life often gets the leftovers after my brain and my body have been filled.. In the Word God tells us that we are to “seek first the Kingdom of God” and that “all these things will be added onto you.” Your line, “In my opinion, the first and foremost need of mankind to be fulfilled should be spiritual,” follows true to this. Thank you for sharing your passion with us. I hope you will continue to share your writings. Blessings to you this day!
Hi Ramila, Thank you for this piece, especially the Bob Pierce quote. I think that the “mind-body-spirit” balance is kept by discipline (which can be challenging), but living from a broken, open heart is the foundation for all healthy living.