Power

Do you know what power is? Have you felt it? Are you aware of how utterly life-changing true power is?

Think of Moses and that burning bush. Remember the story? Moses is wandering. He is lost, having just killed someone, having just lost what he thought was the highest form of power, power in terms of might and control. He has only the clothes upon his back when he comes into a clearing on a mountain and sees a strange sight, a bush on fire, a bush that isn’t being consumed by the flames. He’s told to remove his shoes, for this is holy ground.

It is holy ground when we’re challenged to see things as God sees them. And we usually do have to remove more than our shoes to accommodate such seeing. We have “other visions” to give up, and one of those visions is a lie about what power really is.

We have no idea. We understand power in terms Moses understood it, before he ran into God: might, force, control, wealth, being smarter(est), being bigger(est). Imagine standing before a revelation of God with this idea of power, and yet we do. We buy into it all the time. What’s the alternative?

Becoming whole. Being fulfilled. Taking giant steps toward peace of mind, contentment, joy even when our exterior circumstances do not change. This is what power really is, and it is a gift of God’s. It is what we can wear if we truly seek God, if we truly want God, if we’ll do the work to open ourselves to God.

Do you want power?

Reflection

How do you imagine God would explain power? Does it differ from your explanation? Are you willing to adopt God’s?

Prayer

Dear God, I want to understand what true power is. I want to experience the power that brings transcendence, the ability to have peace of mind, contentment, joy, even as the world’s cruelties rage around me. You offer us this. You offer me this. Show me how to find this, Lord. Show me how to find you. Amen.