Obsession or Passion?

Let me confess something to you, church family: I might have a problem. No, not a serious problem. Not the kind that requires an intervention. (Though if anyone shows up at my house with a PowerPoint titled “Let’s Talk About Your Closet,” I’ll know the jig is up.)

I’m talking about my t-shirts. Not just any t-shirts—graphic t-shirts. You know, the ones with logos, slogans, and pictures that make strangers at the gas station say, “Hey! I remember that movie!” or “Didn’t that restaurant burn down in 1997?” From classic ’80s flicks to obscure sports teams to that one local taco place I visited one time and never forgot, I love them all. Some people collect coins or stamps. I collect cotton-based conversation starters.

Now, depending on who you ask (my spouse, for instance), I’m either passionate or I’ve crossed into obsession. Tomato, tomahto. But it got me thinking: where is the line between passion and obsession? Passion can be a beautiful thing. It’s what drives people to create, to persevere, to love deeply. Paul was passionate. Read any of his letters—this guy was on fire for Jesus. But Paul also warned the church in Colossae to keep their minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). In other words, passion is great—but it needs direction. It needs purpose.

Obsession, on the other hand, starts when our passions lose their balance. When the thing we love becomes the thing that defines us. When we can’t imagine ourselves apart from it. Jesus talked about this kind of thing too. In Matthew 6, He reminds us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That’s not just about money—it’s about what we give our time, energy, and attention to. When our passions point us toward God and others, they become life-giving. When they point only to ourselves, well… we’re just hoarding t-shirts.

So this week, I’m inviting you to join me in doing a little spiritual inventory. What are you passionate about? Where do you spend your energy, your time, your thoughts? Are those passions helping you love God and love others more? Or are they just cluttering the closet?

And if you see me wearing a shirt with a cartoon slice of pizza riding a dinosaur while quoting The Karate Kid, just remember—it’s not an obsession. It’s… ministry.

May God hold you,

Rev Chris Hester