Andy Barlow Blog

I’m from Texas. I was born here, raised here, and in the years that I’ve had the choice where I live, I’ve lived here – oh, and I plan to stay. So what should any self-respectin’ Texan being doing on Friday nights during the fall of the school year? They should be at a football game!

I grew up in a small town that was more talented in basketball and baseball, but I remember with fondness the sights and sounds of Friday night, despite the lack of prowess on display in our football program. There just seems to be a certain energy and excitement that consumes even the smallest Texas towns as kickoff time approaches. And I had the privilege of experiencing it again last night as our hometown Rockport-Fulton Pirates took on the Orange Grove Bulldogs, a game which RFHS won, 29-8.

So what is it about Friday night football in Texas that I love? I’ve been thinking on it for a while and I think I’ve pinpointed was draws me to football like a moth to the flame – passionate people! And I’m not talking about the lovey-dovey, mushy stuff either. I’m talking about face painting, screaming, costume wearing, cheering, jumping up and down, and everything else that happens at a football game. I love to be around passionate people, and Friday night football seems to attract passionate people.

How do you know a passionate person when you see one? I know I’ve seen ‘em, but the start of the football season has caused me to sit and write down some characteristics of passionate people. Check ‘em out…

1. Passionate people speak differently // Their passion is frequently a topic of conversation. In fact, it seems to work it’s way into most every conversation. A passionate person can related everything back to their passion and they’ll speak about it with anyone who will and many who would prefer not to listen.

2. Passionate people will sweat, bleed, and willfully experience loss for their passion // When passion is present, individuals don’t mind losing something for their passion – time, money, sweat, tears, blood – whatever they have, they are willing to give to their passion. They invest in their passion and usually have no limits on what they will lose for their passion. Their investment causes them to highly value their passion, whether you do or not.

3. Passionate people have a clear and determined goal in mind // How can this passion be developed? Where is it taking me? How can I use or invest in my passion every day? These are regular questions that go through the mind of passionate people.

4. Passionate people want others to love their passion too // This passion has so consumed their thoughts and the speech that passionate people often want you to be passionate about their passion. They will try to convince and woo you over to “their side”, and the pursuit will be relentless. In fact, when 2 people meet who are passionate about the same thing, there is an automatic bond between the 2 without any prior friendship experience. It’s a conversation that won’t soon end.

5. Passionate people will defend and/or take a stand for their passion // When an individual (or group) intrudes or attacks their passion, passionate people will be quick to defend or take a stand for their passion. They’ve already experienced loss for their passion, so they will go to great lengths and convey great strength to defend their passion. Are there any college football rivalries that come to mind (Texas – Oklahoma, LSU – Auburn, Florida – Florida St.)?

6. Actions are the greatest determining factor of passion, not words // In a society where talk is increasingly cheap, passion moves beyond words and is proven by action. If you are passionate about a person, you will do what is necessary to communicate it to that person. If you are passionate about volunteering, you will look for every available opportunity to volunteer, and even intentionally seek out volunteer opportunities, engaging meticulous time management techniques to create more time for volunteer opportunities. Actions prove passion – not words.

So, where does your passion lie? Friday night high school football? Painting? Music? Christ? See if you can use the questions above to determine your passion, and if I can be of any help to you, let me know. Later!