none but You shall wield the power rightly

Whole lot a’ judging going on, folks. And I get it. Judging is a way to categorize, a natural human inclination that aids our survival. So we commonly judge and categorize our leaders: political leaders, religious leaders, social movement leaders. Because those individuals are doing work for a common cause, we feel morally justified in judging their work. Even more than that, we feel morally OBLIGATED to judge their work. Also, most of us would admit, we do not want their job. We do not want to do their work.

I think this relationship and ensuing feedback arises with reference to our ORIGINAL relationship: that of the parent/child relationship. The parent is seen to have the power in the kingdom of the family and the child is seen as the subject.

That particular power dynamic is historically more clear, when parents were allowed obligated to beat a child who disobeyed. Modern parenting methods are more child-centric and incorporate a lot more reciprocal communication.

you’ve got the power

And obviously, I’m glossing over a lot of cultural and geographic variation. But I’m already getting sidetracked from the point I was originally trying to make, so just go with me for now, okay?

At the same time as we have more opportunities to democratically select political leaders, we also have more opportunities for children to be listened to by their parents. And children are highly critical of their parents and constituents are highly critical of their leaders.

If you are a parent, have you noticed that you do not control your children? I would posit that I have zero control over my children. I have taught them to the best of my ability so the choices they make and the control they exert over their own lives will hopefully keep them safe and relatively happy and be for their ultimate good. But I can no more control them than I can control the rising of the Sun each day.

Similarly, I would posit that our political, spiritual, and social leaders have zero control over our actions as individuals. (That is the point that I was trying to get to when I wrote, first, the title to this entry. Phew, that wasn’t exactly the road I meant to take, but here I am.)

We need to stop acting like children. We have exactly as much freedom and autonomy as our experience on Earth was ever going to provide us with. From there, it is up to us to make choices.

keep walking

My kids could walk away from the home I have provided for them and the school I signed them up for and the meals that I put on the table and find their way in the world on their own. If they choose to stay and live here and go to school and eat these meals, this is all the best that I have to offer them. I will ask them in return to be kind, to be pleasant, to be respectful. And usually they are, and sometimes they are not, entirely their own choice.

We can walk away from our country, our government, our jobs, our grocery stores. We could go somewhere else, seek something new. Many people have and do. Some of them came here. And we in turn, could leave. All choice.

“none but You shall wield the power rightly”

sure, I look small and cute, but I know I’m in charge

Sure, if You were in charge, and you were in power, you would make different choices. So you can try to affect the outcome you want, you can vote, you can lobby, you can run for office, you can donate money or time to causes. Those are ways to wield the power you do have. REMEMBER, you also wield all the power in your own, day to day, life. Everything is a choice. If you go to work today, or stay home, that is a choice. If you eat a donut for breakfast or an egg, that is a choice. If you yell at someone who cuts you off in traffic, or if you slow down and let someone in traffic get in front of you, that is a choice.

Don’t ever give up your power by believing you don’t have a choice. It is always your choice. Every movement, every breath, every word, every action. It is always your choice. Be Power.

None But YOU Shall Wield This Power Rightly

thank you for your patience, I am weird, and wordy, and you are Awesome. as always, please honk at me…

rightly yours,
the Honking Goose