The Post-Passion Syndrome!
It’s hard to believe one week has passed since Passion 2010. I’m not sure about you, but I’m still trying to take it all in, and smiling as wide as possible on the inside knowing I was able to be in that moment. Seeing the grace and glory of God awaken, heal and inspire a generation to live to make Jesus famous made all the sweat and sacrifice it took to get there worth it.
In some ways I feel like I am still in the middle of the last session, watching people stand to affirm the change God birthed in their hearts. The first to stand were those saying they had met Jesus as Savior and Life-Giver during Passion 2010. So many stood all across both venues, expressing for the first time their new faith in Christ. The first I saw to stand was a guy near the front in Philips who jumped to his feet and shot his hand up so proudly…not like, “Hmmm, yea, me”…. but more like, “HERE I AM! I have found life and forgiveness in Jesus!”
Yes!
So to that guy, whoever you are, and to all who were part of this gathering, welcome to week 2 of Passion 2010 as we “work it out” where we study, work, play and live.
One thing we forgot to mention at 2010 was the inevitable dilemma you run into once you’re home. It goes like this:
Scenario 1-
Friend asks glibly, “So…how was Passion?”
Based on the way the question was asked, you know you’re in trouble and don’t have time to unpack all you are feeling inside… and you’re not even sure you could find the right words if you tried. The look on their face tells you they are not down for a long response.
You reply, “Hmmmm, it was good,” and frustratingly change the subject.
Oh well.
Scenario 2-
A friend or family member says, “So, what was your favorite part of Passion?”
Your brain goes numb and overload kicks in. Words do not come out of your mouth.
Oh well.
Scenario 3-
A friend really wants to know about Passion, asking, “So, tell me all about Passion 2010.”
You talk for forty-five minutes straight without so much as taking a breath, only to realize that nothing you have managed to say quite reflects the depth of what God is doing in your heart. You consider going in for another forty-five, but settle for….”Umm, you really needed to be there!”
Oh well.
Welcome to the post-Passion syndrome. We should have warned you.
Obviously, not everyone feels it, but many of you now know what I’m talking about. That’s not to make a big deal of Passion. I say let Passion’s name fade. It’s just to say that God did so much during the days here in Atlanta it’s hard to really process it all right away, much less package it in a short reply.
We just wanted you to know we’re with you today as you continue to embrace it all….
Awake!
LG
January 12th, 2010 at 10:06 PM
glad to know i’m not the only one that happens to :) this week has been full of those scenarios where all I can do is say “oh wow, it was so amazing!” and then stand there because I’m getting so excited just thinking about it and i can’t decide what to tell them first. meanwhile, they see my slightly crazy look and change the subject. oh well.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Yeah, totally feeling that! When I got home, my sister asked how it was. I tried to explain, also telling her that I couldn’t really explain, and asked her if she understood. She answered no and definitely couldn’t understand.
Even so, that doesn’t really bother me because God did AMAZING things those couple of days in ATL. Great things in ATL, and greater things to come (in our own cities, in THIS city) as we live and work out what He showed us!
January 12th, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Passion 2010 was great, God knew it was just what I need to start my next chapter in living for HIM!!! After I left Atlanta I had one day at home, then flew to Hawaii for 6mo. I am currently doing YWAM (Youth With A Mission). It was a great confirmation at the conference that, we are here to do work for Gods Kingdom. I was unsure about leaving my home (comfort zone) but I know that its what God wanted me to do. He confirmed many things to me at Passion. Im very thankful to have went and learned alot. I really enjoy the breakout session with Marilyn from Uganda. I will be doing an outreach for 3mo outside of the US and hearing her story really encouraged me, that no matter where I go, God is with me and goes ahead of me. Even though I am not college age, it was a great time and God placed me and my friends there. Thank you for making HIM famous.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:16 PM
It is so hard to explain what happened at Passion, but I keep thinking of what Louie said when he talked about the Extreme Makeover show. Being able to show people what happened in my actions, in my expressions, in my love, all for HIS GLORY. Granted, nothing ever really gives what happened at Passion justice! Then I always end on telling my friends, you’ll just have to come next year to experience it :)
January 12th, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Louie, Passion was simply something words don’t need to describe. I have never in my life felt so keen an awakening as I do at this time. Thank you for your humility, and to all the staff for their commitment and love. Today I attempted to unpack just a bit of the highlights to a bible study and it posed this question…
How long will the text 20222 be operational? I have several people wanting to notify a bunch of their friends.
Thanks again, and to GOD be HIS Glory!
January 13th, 2010 at 2:10 AM
I didn’t get a chance to come passion 2010 or help out this year. But I do from a volunteer’s prespective remember trying to explain what happened while there. Yes words fail. Interesting note. My sister works near the CNN center an ate lunch at CNN…she noted to me the Passion Conference attendees volunteers had a distinctly different air about themselves….they were nicer an calmer than othe conference attendees she would run into. I would like to say thanks for showing the public Jesus! Although she is a Christian she still noticed the difference. God Bless!
January 13th, 2010 at 4:48 AM
I haven’t really gone through any of those senarios. How Passion was for me was summed up in one work: unbelievable. The whole trip was an answer to prayer! I went to the Live Link and blew it off when I heard the cost. A few days later I was reading my Bible when I just felt, with absolute confidence, that God wanted me to go. I wasn’t even thinking about it, dwelling on it, telling myself I wanted to go. And out of no where…BOOM. Go. Period. So I called my parents and talked to my college pastor and together we set up a plan to save money. Unexpectedly, my request for more hours at work was shut down and I was left in the dark asking God, “How am I going to do this? You have to provide a way, open a door.” The next thing that happened was absolutely unbelievable. My parents agreed to pay the fee to go if I found a way for the rest of it. Within a matter of only weeks, I found a friend who was going with his home church. Not only did I not have to pay for a hotel, but I didn’t have to pay for gas on the way down there. In the end, I managed to save enough to give to some of the ministries that were there.
And when Louie announced that we have ended up with more than $1.3 million, I almost cried as, yes, I tweeted it. The speakers were amazing, I loved my family group, worship was powerful. But in the end, I think you summed it 3. You just really had to be there. There is no explaining 21,000 Christians in a single location worshiping and doing great things for Christ.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Texts to 20222 will work into the future and all funds given at this point will help complete funding of two remaining projects at onemillioncan.com: solar-powered scripture recorders for unreached people in Africa and the Muslim world and Villages for refugees in IDP camps in Northern Uganda!
January 13th, 2010 at 12:11 PM
You nailed the way I feel! I can’t stop thinking about the past week. Still reveling in all that God did. Love it.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:16 PM
Scenarios 2 and 3: been there, done that… a lot!! :-)
Inevitably, it always ends with: you really needed to be there!!! You got it perfectly right, Louie!
That’s why I’ve been talking like crazy to everyone: you’ve gotta be at Passion Sao Paulo 2010.
Rodrigo
January 13th, 2010 at 4:45 PM
Are there any relief efforts being organized or endorsed by 268 Generation or OneMillionCan to help those in Haiti?
January 13th, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Not once a year, but every day. Not re-dedication, but surrender.
I’ve told so many people about what God did and what he revealed to me at Passion 2010.
I think language is one of the greatest inventions, but when it comes to Passion, I hate words.
And at the end of the day, all I can say is that God is amazing.
Much love!
Chae
January 13th, 2010 at 6:31 PM
As a One Day alum (2000 and 2003) it is good to know the next wave has started. Really enjoyed tuning in for a glimpse at the sessions as replayed online. May God set the bar so high for the upcoming tour so that everyone understands that HE DID IT when it is surpassed! PRAISE GOD! Looking forward to the party in Heaven
John
January 13th, 2010 at 6:50 PM
Hi,
I totally feel like that some times. I was wondering something. You know all those business loans we raised. Can they go towards relief in Haiti? I didn’t know the logistics of all of it but I was figuring they would be more beneficial there. My heart is heavy for the people there.
In Christ,
Cassie
January 13th, 2010 at 7:25 PM
Awe inspiring experiences! Too much to try and put into words. My greatest impression is that of all the big names on site, they weren’t really there at all. You could really sense the fruits of everyones efforts to make great the name and will of God.
My favorite memory is self centered. I will never forget, this side of heaven, standing in Philips Arena during worship listening to thousands of voices from all walks of life lifting up praise to Father and wondering what it will be like when we are all in the Throne Room. Wondering what worship will sound like in Heaven surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ untethered by the stress and distractions of this life.
There are many more memories than that, but that is my favorite. Like everyone else I will never be the same, which was my prayer before arriving, to be disturbed, shaken from any form of complacency that inhabits my walk.
Twenty Ten was my first, and I hope not my last.
servant of Christ
kero b.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:56 PM
Let’s pray that this syndrome takes itself all over the world!
January 13th, 2010 at 9:12 PM
I have had more than one of those scenerios recently! Coworkers who aren’t believers got the amazing story of God’s almighty hand thru a condensed versio n of all that happened in the Go Center with Do Something Now and One million Can. I am in tears talking of that to no matter what audience I’ve had. Also my church alotted me a whole service to tell of my experiences…. Many anxious ears awaited my testimony. Every fear of public speaking went out the window as the excitement became mine of having 1+ hours to share!!
That week was out of this world… And words cannot fully express all that the Lord did in my heart those 4 days.
God is just amazing.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Louie, thanks for following up after the conference. I’m impressed with your efforts towards raising funds for global and local endeavors. Peace to you.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:06 AM
I’ve watched the slideshow that was released in the all access pass about a 1000 times in the past 2 days. Thanks so much Louie and Passion team. I love doing life together with our enormous little family.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:33 AM
I’m will all of you. no words can describe what happened in those days. God moved, people were awakened. My heart was awakened, changed, refreshed, convicted. Every time I try to explain it – i end up talking forever and getting still to “I can express to you how amazing it was!” I love sharing with people what God did with Do Something Now – people don’t believe me at first!
And I’m with you Emily – I can’t get enough of the Picture Video….
Louie, what is the song playing in the picture video?
January 14th, 2010 at 4:57 PM
Judges 5:12 “Wake up , wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, Break out in song…” I experienced an Awakening at PASSION 2010. I have been waking up people since I got home. I am speaking at my Church this Sunday and pray that GOD will wake our whole Church up! My life is different now because my perspective on GOD has been changed. I know our GOD is greater, our GOD is higher than any other! He is worthy of more praise than we could ever give him. And I will live my life serving and praising till my very last breath. I want to volunteer to go to the Ukraine and Sau Paulo. Some kids from Sau Paulo prayed for GOD to bring me and my PASSION as a volunteer in sect 103 to Brazil. It was very moving to hear them ask for “me” to come to help share JESUS with their people. I was just a doorkeeper and an usher, but they said please come, so I am praying and seeking info on how to volunteer there too. Thanks for your service to our LORD JESUS! I pray that the whole world will wake up and Praise GOD for his greatness!
January 14th, 2010 at 6:25 PM
UHM yep feeling it! =) haha
I love this.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:02 PM
song playing in Passion 2010 Image Video is original music by Nathan Nockels.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Scenario 4-You cannot bring yourself to cut off your wristband, and when a week later the checkout girl at PetsMart asks you if you went to a bar, you smile, a bit embarrassed, and reply “um, er, um… it’s from this thing I did in Atlanta” and miss your first test of Passion 2010… can you bring the message and spirit back with you. Epic Fail.
In all seriousness, I miss and love you all. And I mean that, knowing that I only know a very tiny percentage of those participating. Passion is a family, the real type of community God meant for us. I can’t help but smile when I think of the special place in my heart you all hold.
Thank you so much to Louie, for being the kind of leader I can only hope and pray more of us can be. From the way you handled things under pressure, to the fact that you stopped and talked to us when you could’ve been surrounded by an entourage and blown by us, to your inspiring messages, to your top knotch staff (and they really are the best!), thank you for everything you do.
God brought us all together for a bigger purpose. Now let’s go live it out. :-)
January 15th, 2010 at 10:59 AM
like our God, words aren’t enough.
working it out is the best testimony.
only by the Holy Spirit in us and through us.
His name and renown.
not an experience.
not an event or a person.
glory!
praying for those opportunities to,
like LG example bowing down as you all sang,
make us less and Him famous
January 15th, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Have you had someone from Passion ministries stalking me and listening in on all of my conversations??? I really have had so many of those situations pop up every day. Esp since I still have my passion wrist band on so I am always asked questions! =)
January 16th, 2010 at 11:23 AM
I still have Post-Passion Syndrome from One Day’03!!! Especially when someone asks me if I have ever been through a storm.
January 17th, 2010 at 5:01 PM
wow Louie, you completely explained every feeling i’ve had over the last 2 weeks…i cannot believe it’s over but refuse to accept that anything is actually finished…we rise each day freshly AWAKENED to God’s endless glory and power!…OUR GOD IS GREATER! USE US GOD!
January 20th, 2010 at 9:49 PM
WOW! God is SO GOOD TO US! Passion has been a wonderful experience, a place and time where God renewed my love for Him! I am encouraging everyone I talk to to go. Next year, those that are here from Atlanta and those abroad such as Romania and Ukraine, have to be there. May God continue to work in our lives and may God continue to bless the leaders that are involved in Passion with wisdom and patience!
with love from Atlanta!
:)
January 21st, 2010 at 12:53 PM
I was not able to attend this year, but being able to listen and watch the talks online I felt like I was there! I am still suffering from post Passion syndorome from 2007 in ATL. It is still hard to explain the thoughts that run through your heard after something like that. But all I can say is that God still works in mighty ways!
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:45 AM
How do you express and explain it to people? I have been a christian for so many years but was struggling with feeling so dead and “over it”, passion helped me to wake up and feel alive in Christ again! I have just been growing and digging into the word and i am so alive. But how do we share that with others? i was recently a core group leader for a youth groups’ disciple now… i wanted so badly for them to be alive too…
January 24th, 2010 at 9:33 PM
FROM AN OLDER PASSION PARTICIPATOR>>>my passion overflow continues…i just cut my wrist band off…i kept it on to remember all you all in prayer…now that it is off it still reminds me! i love to wear it as a witnessing tool. You see i am 51 and this was my 3rd passion to go to with my daughter…an experience that God has blessed me with. Standing in line with incredible young adults in incredible freezing weather, yet they were so nice to me! I loved telling them…”you will never stop learning about God, being in His Presence, DON’T STOP learning, desiring, loving God…He will NEVER STOP doing that to you! NEVER! so from an “older Passion Participator….keep…keeping on. I love to talk about what i learn and how it is not about the “people” or “worship artist” it is ABOUT JESUS>>>so carry on…tell the people…I never get tired of talking about my Passion trips…we are about to venture into Crazy Love with our whole church…God is at work…may we be bold and let the world know His love is available and free and forgiving. blessings to you all….”ARMS OPEN WIDE”—-humbled by the walls i am trying to tear down, with Gods help and guidance.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:45 PM
I want to comment on the All Access Pass and what kind of help it has been to my friends and I in these post-passion weeks! We took a small group of random people to Passion and bought the pass.
My friend Drew is a single twenty-something who lives in a very single-guy-esque apartment. There are tons of pieces of mismatched furniture in the living room, most of them designed for patios, and they all smell at least faintly like armpit. The two bedroom little place has three people living in it and is less than ideal for entertaining.
But every time a new talk comes out he invites everyone he knows over to his apartment. We have been meeting on Sunday nights to watch the talks, sing together from a CD, and process. Last night so many people showd up we had them sitting on the kitchen countertops and standing on stools in the hallway. We raided the fridge, settled as best we could, and stopped everything to watch. Then we stayed for hours after the talk listening to testimonies and talking about our convictions. It ended with a very lumpy and somewhat arm-pitty prayer circle.
These meetings have been the most genuine church experience I have ever had, armpit smell and all. I feel like I am living in Acts. Thanks for sharing the talks with us.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:04 AM
[...] Click Louie Giglio’s post about The Post-Passion Syndrome here. [...]
February 1st, 2010 at 3:24 AM
I’m Sao Paulo, Brazil, and this was my first time at a Passion Conference. I was deeply moved when I first heard about the movement back in 2001 – college ministries and worship together… two of the passions God has placed on my heart – and could hardly wait to be part of it!
I’m a university student there and couldn’t be part of Passion ‘08 in Sao Paulo as my dad was admitted to a hospital and I was there taking care of him full time. What God has done to bring me to a Passion Conference was insane… from making me meet the man He has for my life through the internet and come to an engagement – he’s from Woodstock, GA – to moving heavens and earth to have me here in Atlanta as Passion ‘10 took place… I’m still amazed!
I’m looking forward to serving with you all in Sao Paulo this year – I first heard about Jesus from American missionaries who went to Brazil in 1999 – college students! – and through doing that I want to give back at least a little of what I’ve received and showing how thankful I’m to a Lord that touches lives and transforms lives… the same way He has touched and transformed mine!
Thank you for remaining so faithful to your calling, Louie!
Blessings to you all,
Your Brazilian sister in Christ Jesus! =)
July 21st, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Resources like this article are incredibly helpful. Nice post . Keep up the good work. :)