I was noticing this week that I’m getting pretty obsessive with my interest in perfecting the enjoyment of coffee. It’s funny, you get suddenly self conscious and wonder what that must look like to your friends.  I had a friend over and I was talking 90 miles a minute about roasting and espresso, and he’s not even a coffee drinker.

I could see how the degree of interest and spending and obsession could become a real problem in some families.  I’m thankful that my wife doesn’t criticize or discourage me in any way.

So this is as good a place as any to stop and observe.  What is going on here?  Obviously coffee has become something of a passion for me.  What are my motives?  Is this strictly a personal interest, or am I trying to prove something to someone?  What’s this about?  For me, I think it started with a challenge that it couldn’t be done [getting espresso "this good" at home, in the estimation of a local roaster], and I wanted to do it.  So it’s about the challenge of perfection.  Can I get the perfect roast? can I pull the perfect shot of espresso? – not perfect “for a home user,” but perfect, period.  It’s worth trying, I think.

Where does passion come from?  What ignites it? At what point does an interest burst into flames and consume us?  My artist friend Sharika describes her need to paint as having no choice:

“…but I have to go with what is speaking to me right now. I have to. NO artist has a choice.”

I suspect that any hobby could take a dark turn, given bad motives, OCD behavior, etc.  I’m reminded of my post from a few weeks ago about the air hockey guys.  I also wonder what the balance is for a spiritually minded person who knows there is something to be avoided called idolatry, although I’m quick to add that it is hard for me to figure out what that means, exactly.  In the Bible, John gives this notion great importance by closing a letter with “Little children, keep yourself from idols.”  John Calvin brings the issue to a fine point, “For what is idolatry if not this: to worship the gifts in place of the Giver himself?” John Calvin, Institutes, 4.17.36.  To me, the consideration of idolatry in a 21st century setting always takes me to a strange place, of vague and puzzling anxiety over whether this is something I’m guilty of.  Aaaaanyway, not intending to perform acts of worship to the coffee anytime soon.

Passion is important, and hobbies are important.  Recent studies indicate that people with hobbies are at lower risk for depression and dementia.  Thank God for that.  No, seriously.

Thinking about my own experience, I think that you hardly even notice that you have a hobby when you’re doing it right.  Like Sharika says, you cannot help it.  You don’t have a choice.