Passion Lost. Passion Returned.

Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor

A few years ago, Linda and I had the delightful experience of camping on Wellesley Island, part of the 1000 Island region in New York. It was a beautiful location.

 A few miles from there, on the St. Lawrence River is Heart Island.  Nearly a century ago, a very wealthy man named George Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria, bought the island for his wife and had it carved into the shape of a heart.  But, this was only the beginning.

Once the island was suitably carved, he began building a magnificent castle for his beloved wife.  He imported marble from Italy, stone from Scotland, and art from the treasures of Europe.  The towers and spires rose imperiously over the waters of the St. Lawrence and the castle looked as if it would rival those that dot the Rhine.

Then Mr. Boldt’s wife died.  And, so did his passion.

The workers were sent home.  The Italian marble and Scottish stone were left on the docks.  And the work on the castle ceased.  Weeds grew and dust soon gathered.

Many lives are half built castles.  Encountering Jesus, the fires of passion are ignited and we set out on the path to know God and to enjoy His sanctifying and empowering work.  But somewhere disappointment ambushes us, distractions overtake us, and other affections preoccupy us.  Our passion for Jesus wanes and the building slows or stops.

The glorious blueprint we had in mind yellows with our loss of passion.  The construction within halts and we are stalled in our once burning hope of becoming a glorious showcase of God’s glory and grace.  This interior castle gathers dust and weeds.

King Solomon cried out to God (Lamentations 5:21):  “Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored!  Renew our days as of old.”

In 1977, a renewed passion entered the hearts of some financiers and now the building of Boldt Castle is once again underway.  There is always something warming about a passion restored that brings alignment to one’s original mission and purpose.

Interior castle building hardly ever transpires with sustained energy.  Storms of disappointment and winds of temptations can slow us and sometimes stop us.  For that reason, we all need periodic seasons of revival – seasons when repentance moves in and resolve to engage anew grip us. 

So, if others could look within our hearts, would they see work aggressively accomplished or would they see half built stairways and only partially completed walls with tools lying unattended and supplies stacked on the dock?
Is it time again for another personal revival of the interior life? Is it time anew for a passionate hunger and thirst for God, His presence, and His refining work within us!

Only you and I and God know the answer to that.

 “Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored!  Renew our days as of old!”