By Seth D. Willard
Lately, I’ve been thinking about interests and passions. Often we consider our interests–those activities or subjects we find intriguing. I am interested in politics, food, ministry, and writing. You might be interested in scrapbooking, volleyball, The Chronicles of Narnia, or antiques. Passions are a step beyond interests. They are interests coupled with feelings. What starts as an interest may grow to be a passion. Personally, my interest in organic gardening led me to become passionate about natural food. I was influenced by knowledge of industrial food production, which led me to feel strongly that naturally raised food is healthier.
For some, homeschooling is merely an interest, while for others it is definitely a passion. The difference in view greatly affects our calling and commitment. Are we passionate about home education or just interested?
The pioneering homeschool families were undoubtedly passionate about the choice they made. They courageously resisted cultural norms to educate their children by biblical standards, even though it was frowned upon and condemned. To sacrifice potential career opportunities, relationships, and possibly their reputation, they had to be more than simply interested in homeschooling. These dear people had a passion we should imitate. But do we?
Do we realize how easy it is to homeschool without being passionate about it? I think we know–with curriculum stacked wall-to-wall–how prevalent homeschooling is now, but do we understand how unusual it was years ago? Websites, conferences, catalogs, and magazines marketed to homeschoolers make taking an interest in homeschooling almost a three-step process. First, go to a conference with your friends to learn about homeschooling. Next, order curriculum and notify the government school of your children’s absence next year. Third, do school!
This way of homeschooling seems so easy. It involves no passion or driving vision. If it turns out that homeschooling doesn’t work, the kids can always go to public school next year. Oh, and make sure the principal knows that some of the kids will be participating in school activities. You know, they have interests that the government school can accommodate easier than the homeschool group can. Besides, we wouldn’t want our passion for homeschooling to overshadow their interests, right?
The fact is, no one is better equipped to accommodate the many interests students have than a homeschool support group full of passionate families. As we begin to view homeschooling as a passion, we will become aware of ways to make our other interests flourish. Doors will open for us to pursue a plethora of opportunities that advance not only the interests at hand, but also our passion for biblical homeschooling.
A positive trend among homeschoolers has been the growth in strength and size of support groups and co-ops. Now, clubs and classes consisting completely of homeschooled students regularly meet to practice athletics, arts, chess, entrepreneurship, debate, ministry, and more. Students are able to connect with others who share their interests, learn with them, and encourage one another, all in a Christian environment.
Opportunities also abound for students to pursue their interests on their own. The battle against Hollywood is becoming more direct as Christian filmmaking takes off. Homeschooled students are at the forefront of this culture war, led by those students who are passionate about making movies with a Christian worldview. Politics and law are other areas homeschoolers are becoming interested in, as we realize that our country must have truth-loving, moral Christian leaders if it is to escape the current depravity. Those leaders need to be trained now, and home educated students not distracted by government school interests passionately see themselves as capable tools for enacting positive change.
Homeschooled students have also been known to unite for common interests over a long distance. An interest in writing among a group of teen bloggers launched Regenerated, an online magazine containing practical advice and encouragement for other teenagers. Missions and humanitarian causes are being headed by homeschooled teens who passionately fight against poverty, modern-day slavery, and abortion, and on behalf of persecuted Christians, missionaries, and neglected children.
These are just a few examples of the interests-turned-passions of homeschooled teens. Not every interest needs to turn into a passion. Interests certainly aren’t bad–but passions aren’t either. It’s not only okay to be passionate about something, it’s admirable. Jesus was passionate about keeping His Father’s temple clean, which led Him to overturn the tables of the money changers (John 2:14-15). Let’s use our passions to pursue whatever is true, noble, and pure (Phil. 4:8).
As we become passionate about homeschooling, our passion will overflow into other areas of life, allowing us to focus on transforming more of our interests into passions. Just one interest-turned-passion has the potential to positively affect multitudes of people. By the grace of God, homeschoolers will be known for living out a passion rather than dabbling in interests. No longer will we be working with the world to educate our children. Instead, we will be working with our children to change the world–breaking chains, spreading hope, shining the Light.
This article originally appeared in the August/September issue of The Paper MACHE. Do you have a passionate reaction to this article? Respectful comments are always welcomed, if they are made by named individuals. Make your comments using the form provided.
