It's the passion, isn't it?

Here I am on the annual retreat with the Marist Brothers' ad Gentes teams from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.  The theme is discernment.  I am no expert on the topic but my personal experience tells me that central to discernment are the two P's - passion and prophetic.

If one has no passion for something worthwhile, why do it?
If one is going to make a difference, why just go along with the crowd? 

Then I hear one of the brothers voice a concern about basing decisions on passion as is this not about restricting decision making to the personal?  Is this the old 'he's doing his own thing' criticism which becomes the great tool for repressing creative individuals and creativity generally?

I am beyond such a criticism or concern as experience tells me that such a path leads to repression of the individual endeavor and commitment that is needed for ones to make their mark.  It also denies the other side of the coin as the communal dimension can serve as a barrier to stepping ahead to where we need to be and be a force for mediocrity.

To make a discernment in mission, one has to be in touch with the prophetic, with the passion - doesn't one? 

As a PS, I talked with one of the Brothers and the issue may not be whether or not passion but too much passion which has become a bit overbearing.