The person who fears the Lord has humility as his constant companion and, through the thoughts which humility inspires, reaches a state of divine love and thankfulness. For he recalls his former worldly way of life, the various sins he has committed and temptations which have befallen him since his youth, and he recalls, too, how the Lord delivered him from all this, and how He led him away from a passion-dominated life to a life ruled by God. Then, together with fear, he also receives love, and in deep humility continually gives thanks to the Benefactor and Helmsman of our life. (Maximos the Confessor)

I do not perceive we are intended -- even in a life ruled by God -- to live free of passion. We now think of passion as being made up of lusts, especially for sex, money, and fame. This is a weird warping of its Latinate meaning (contemporary with Maximos) which is closest to the English to suffer, which is why we speak of the passion of Christ on the cross.

In this life we will suffer. We do not always suffer because of anything we have done or not done. We are, rather, passionate creatures in a passionate world. In classical Latin passus was an undergoing, as you might undergo a trial or a march or a task. It could also mean submission. We derive passive from the same root. Not only are we passionate, we are called to be compassionate. We are to identify with and fully share the hopes, fear, and lives of others.

Certainly our desires can compound our suffering. Humility can reduce what we contribute to our own suffering and that of others. Thankfulness can transform what we are undergoing. Together with love, thankfulness can, as Maximos teaches, inspire us to a new life. I have not, though, perceived any benefit from fear, especially not in fear of God.

I am intrigued by the Kabbalists' notion of a fractured world where we are partners with God in healing and restoring. But I am more convinced of a universe organized for ongoing creativity. Everywhere we look there is a breadth and depth of freedom, creative destruction, wonderful renewal, and - occasionally - something entirely and profoundly new.

Rather than partners in healing, I perceive we are to be partners in creating. One outcome of this perpetual creativity is passion - in the forms of both desires and suffering. But other outcomes - if we embrace the possibilities - are fully worth the price.