Finding Passion

Last weekend, the kid spent three full days at a Magic the Gathering tournament. Three days surrounded by people twice his age, embedded in a world of fantasy, card games and strategy, along with artists, professional players and the smell that a Magic playing friend describes as ConFunk. The kind of smell that only a truly passionate person can tolerate for three days straight.

A friend and colleague of mine said that she was glad he had found a passion and that they were still looking for one within their son. This took me aback a little bit and I spent several days thinking about it. A passion? In a card game? Is that even OK?

I'll be honest, I felt immediately compelled to quash it out of him. Box up the cards that spill into multiple rooms in my house, cut off the supply chain that has allowed this passion to flourish (aka- his dad, who appreciates all things geeky). Surely passion should be reserved for things that actually are productive, bring good to the world or at a very minimum, don't involve spending time with unshowered young adults.

I'm glad I fought those urges though, because the more I thought about my friend's comment, the more I realized that we are lucky. He has a passion. He actually has three of them. If I divvied up the hours in my house based on what he spends time on by choice, I'd see

1) Minecraft
2) Reading for pleasure
3) Fencing
4) Magic the Gathering
5) School work

None of those are likely to make him millions of dollars in a future career, but equally, none are likely to lead him down a path of self destruction and dangerous on-the-edge living. He can spend time in a large group of adults (more than 1800 this weekend!) and engage in contextually, socially appropriate conversation without sticking out like a sore thumb. He's learned to mold himself to fit the group, a useful skill in any future career.

He has good friends who share his passions and will listen to him babble on endlessly about this new mod pack or that new card's strengths. I'm grateful for these friends, because it means less time I have to spend pretending that I'm engaged in a discussion about the virtues of things I really don't have the desire to care about. Any parent out there knows that Minecraft talk will dominate your dinner conversation if you let it!

My friend was right, he has a passion. It might not be my passion, or the one I would have chosen for him, but it's there and it's exciting and energizing for him. I'll step back, encouraging along the way and let it run its course. I think I can, I think I can!