Temptation

Power and Responsibility

“If you and I were to become known as relevant and powerful people, we would find ourselves burdened by the responsibilities that come with the image.”

                                 Parker Palmer (The Active Life)

Do you ever wonder why anyone anywhere wants to run for political office? There has to be both hubris and masochism involved. One has to crave the power that comes with the office and at the same time be willing to be ripped apart by the opposition. Every single skeleton in one's closet, and who doesn't have them, will be dug out and paraded through the press and in the streets for the whole world to see. One's family will be scrutinized and questioned, every business deal or slip of the tongue will be slathered across the headlines. Today, one has to be willing to bleed copiously for the “privilege” of representing the masses, half of whom hate him or her. I don't understand it.

In today's world, power comes with responsibility to perform far beyond the capacity of human beings. We expect our president, for instance, to change things without rocking the boat, and none of the changes can affect us adversely no matter who we are. We want results before their feet touch the rug in the oval office and those results must benefit everyone without loss of anything we hold dear. It's a mystery to me how we behave as if the person who holds that elected position holds the strings to everything, and is personally responsible for anything that happens in the country while he/she is in office. It's bizarre.

Jesus faced this sort of elevation and scrutiny as well. The story of the temptation outlines the offers made by the “devil” to try and cajole him into testing God's love. First, by turning stones into bread; second, by throwing himself off the highest point of the temple to see if angels would save him. And third, to view all the kingdoms of earth that would be delivered into his hands if he bowed down and worshiped Satan. Jesus declined all three temptations but first, he allowed himself to face them. He tested his own resolve not to succumb to the allure of power before turning his face toward ministry.

I know, we aren't Jesus. We have a much harder time turning down offers of power no matter what nasty gremlins come with them. We have the hubris to think we can handle it, that we are altruistic enough to work tirelessly for others and not use that power to aggrandize ourselves. Few of us succeed. Power is an aphrodisiac that bends the mind to its will. When it comes to you, in whatever form it takes, no matter how small or great, approach with caution.

                                       In the spirit,

                                          Jane