Z is for (Radical) Zeal
It's time to get excited about Life
In many spiritual traditions, there is a practice in which a selected scriptural passage becomes the theme for the week. At Radical Spirituality, we do the same thing, but in a radical way.
Each Sunday, I offer The ABC’s of Radical Spirituality, a single, simple word distilled from the common principles of all the world’s faith and wisdom teachings that serves as the exploration for the week. They are the roots of Radical Spirituality. And because I am that person, the words are in alphabetical order. We start with A and go to Z.
It’s a simple practice to get to the roots of what matters on our spiritual path. The best part is that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you just keep the word on a sticky-note on your computer, it will still work it’s magic. But to dig deeper, delve in, dive in, and see what you find.
Z is for (Radical) Zeal
Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost. ~ Gautama Buddha
When is the last time you were really excited about something? Passionately engaged? Lit up? Zealously eager? Divinely inspired and deeply devoted?
Zeal is an old-fashioned word, but one we need to bring back into our vocabulary. Though commonly misaligned with the negative “Zealot,” Zeal really means "passionate ardor in pursuit of an objective or course of action." Zeal derives from the Latin, zelus and the Greek zēlos, meaning ardor or eagerness. Zeal is excitement, devotion, and determination. In some ways, Zeal is the higher octave of Yes. It’s like saying “Yes!” with great passion.
In spiritual terms, Zeal is a passion or devotion to the Sacred. It’s “being on fire for God.” In the Radical Spirituality understanding, it is best described as “enthusiasm.” Etymolgically, enthusiasm derives from the Latin enthusiasmus and Greek enthousiasmos or "divine inspiration,” from entheos "divinely inspired, possessed by a god," from en "in"+ theos "god." In other words, to be enthusiastic is to be filled with the passion of Divine.
At its deepest meaning then, Zeal is a passion for whatever you call Sacred, and that passion comes from the Divine itself. Zeal gives life its fullest flavor and meaning. Zeal is what makes life worth living. Zeal is the ultimate expression of our Divine being. After all, why else are we alive, if not to be excited by it?
This week, we explore Zeal. What are you passionate about? What inspires you? What makes life worth living?
Deeper Roots
The Hebrew root for Zeal means to boil with fire or heat and refers to a kind of burning energy or passion. To be “aflame” is a good synonym for Zeal. That heat can be a good thing, igniting change, or can engulf us.
When we hear the word Zeal, we often relate it to the word Zealot, implying an overly fanatical person, or a blind follower for a cause or ideal. In fact, Zealot was the Latin name given to a 1st Century militant Jewish sect that resisted the Roman occupation. Both Simon and Judas, two of Jesus’ disciples, were Zealots.
To the Romans, the Jews passion and devotion to their religion and culture was viewed as fanatical, and, historically, the Zealots were pretty full-on. Zeal can, if misaligned, be destructive (Jealous is a word that shares the same root). We certainly have seen the results of misdirected Zeal. But, if Zeal is directed with sincerity and humility in the service of Life, it can be a creative force for change.
In the Bible, there are several uses of Zeal. Not only does Jesus possess zeal for the Lord, but “the zeal of the Lord” describes God’s great passion for his creation. This is where enthusiasm comes in. En-theos means “in god.” If we understand the Divine as that which creates and sustains Life, then that which supports Life can be said to be “in god.” Our Zeal for Life itself is a divine gift.
No matter what kind of craziness surrounds us, no matter what fear we may have about the future, remaining rooted in Life itself, passionate and devoted to it, will carry us forward. If our Zeal is well directed, it can bring the change we all dream of—a world where all of Life thrives.
Reflection Questions
What does Zeal mean to me?
For what do I have Zeal?
What prevents me from Zeal?
How can I cultivate more Zeal?
Suggested Practice
This week, take a look at how your Zeal gets dampened or enflamed. If you are feeling very zealous about something (and there are certainly some big, fiery issues out there), look carefully at that Zeal. Are you getting overheated? Is your Zeal directed toward the support of Life, or not? If you aren’t feeling enthusiastic about Life, explore what might be in the way? Fear? Worry? Cynicism? Being overly rational? Not wanting to appear “zealous?”
When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself. - Confucius