The Perfect Christmas Gift                                           Home Page                        

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“What? You can’t make an appointment with me! I’ve spent enough time with you  

people. You’ll have to try to make an appointment through the lottery system that your 

group has set up. I can’t meet with you,” said John Doe, a senior editor for a top Christian 

publishing company.

Fighting back tears, I humbly apologized and ran to the nearest bathroom to hide my state 

of shock.  Attending the Christian Booksellers Association annual convention was the opportunity 

of a lifetime. I had traveled across the country to California for one of the most 

prestigious publishing events of the year. Numerous celebrities were walking the halls of 

the huge convention floor where thousands tended to the business of selling Christian 

books. Excited attendees were making new friends while waiting in long lines to meet 

their favorite author and have newly-released books signed personally to them. 

Since starting to write a book about living your life’s passion several years ago, attending 

the CBA was a natural step for me as for any aspiring Christian author. A chance to meet 

with editors and “pitch” my book excited me while at the same time it awakened the 

butterflies that felt more like bats in my stomach. 

Being a driver type personality, I leaped head first into writing this book. Certain of the 

call from God, I had little doubt of my impending success. Piece of cake. 

Call it naïve, call it gullible, call it just plain ignorance-but boy, was I wrong. It has been 

said that God works in mysterious ways, and I can attest. Mysterious was just the 

beginning of my confusion. 

In preparation of writing a book on passion, I had interviewed several Christians who 

woke up daily certain of their own life’s purpose. Many of them were famous, and I had 

traveled the country to learn first hand of the successes and failures of those who were 

living their passion. 

You could call it a moment of truth in that bathroom that day. Suddenly, my excitement 

was missing in action as I tried desperately to wipe the streams of black mascara from my 

carefully made up face before my next appointment in a brief 22 minutes. Somehow I had 

to recover from this mans harsh words. “Aren’t we all Christians here? Should there not 

be some common courtesy? Or is it just all business?” 

Hidden in a bathroom stall, I asked the Lord. “OK, what is this all about? Isn’t this where 

I’m supposed to feel your presence? Aren’t I doing as you led? Help me understand what 

just happened.” Wiping the last tear and reapplying the make up, I left the bathroom 

hoping to rebound and prepare for the next meeting. 

Often confusion moments lead to clarification. While writing this book I was sure I had 

thought of everything that related to living God’s purpose. I had covered many bases: 

how to have joy, how to triumph in trials, how to hear God’s voice, even how to 

understand your vision to name a few. But I had left out one very important component in 

living a life of purpose and passion. The only problem was I didn’t even know it. 

Do you want to live a life of passion? One exuding with the confidence that God has 

equipped you for something so uniquely designed for you that only you could do it? You 

can and you should. 

Through my tears and confusion, a life lesson happened right there on that convention 

floor. With dozens of people passing me by, I was receiving a truth so simple and so 

profound that in all my years of research and interviews I had overlooked it. 

Compassion! If you want passion, you must start with compassion. I got it! 

After all, Christ’s passion was compassion. The woman at the well. Mary Magdalene. 

Sick people oozing with sores. Prostitutes. Cheating tax collectors. You. Me. 

The editor that screamed at me lacked compassion. Sure, he was there to conduct 

business and had every right to guard his time and establish boundaries. However, as 

Christians, there are some basic guidelines that cannot be compromised. 

If we are to win the world for Christ as we have been commissioned, there is no excuse 

for overlooking each and every opportunity to show compassion. In our society of “I’m so 

busy how busy are you?” we must make time for basic Christianity 101. 

When is the last time you had dinner with a sinner ? How long has it been since you’ve 

shared your testimony of how Christ has made a difference in your life? Did you realize 

the last time someone asked you for directions that this was an opportunity to imitate 

Christ? Do the people under your authority (workplace/children) see your commitment to 

Christ through your responses to their questions? When did you last forgive someone for 

something they did or said that offended you? I could go on. 

We pray for a life of fulfillment. We attend church to seek direction. However, our idea 

of seeking God is often asking for some sign that is so clear that our marching orders are 

clear. 

Want passion? Start with compassion. Success almost always comes by mastering the 

basics. Realize that the people who are in your life are there for a reason. Christ never 

missed a chance to show compassion and this is our first call in life. Not when others 

deserve it, not when we feel like it, not when we have the time. Right in the moment, 

trusting God to use us in those powerful opportunities. That very day at CBA I had to let 

go of the editor’s behavior and forgive him as well as his company. I could not allow one 

incident to cause me to harbor anger or resentment. 

This Christmas, make your Christmas list look a little different from years past. List the 

people that need your compassion, asking God to reveal to you those He would lay on 

your heart. Take time to listen more, offering something money can’t buy. A gift far more 

precious than one with beautiful wrapping sealed with a meticulous bow: the gift of 

compassion. In giving that most unique gift, you will be unwrapping the mystery of your 

own life. Your passion will become clear.