Hoarding Power

Power, a gift from God
Distributed in pieces to the world
Embedded in the garden
So that together, with him, we might rule and subdue

Like a mosaic made of many stones
When brought together
And exchanged
God’s people bear witness
To the kingdom of Christ’s love
This is how the God of the universe
Designed his power
To work in his garden

Power--important, necessary, worthy
Designed to work
Only when it’s placed beneath
And quickly released to
Uplift all within the land

It’s simply a utility
It has no beauty in and of itself
There is nothing about it that is too special
Average and ordinary
It has quite the common look

Power--Like a cement block
It’s simple purpose is to build
So that we might cohabit
An equitable and just place
In harmony with one another
But power by itself
Has very little luster

Tragically, power
Like the serpent who whispered in the garden
Comes to us and says:
“I’m not ordinary, in fact
You can’t exist without me.
Don’t let me go.
Consume me
You don’t have enough,
Take some of the others
And no matter what
Fight til your death
to never lose me”

Power--like a cement block
Was designed to uphold the beautiful
A gift given to lift weak things
High for all to see
To quietly serve another
Displaying and drawing attention
To what it holds,
Not itself

But instead power whispers like that snake:
“Why are you holding up
Such a weak vase?
Go collect and hoard more blocks
Take them from beneath
Instead place them on top
Don't lift up the fragile art
Have everyone look at power
Possess it, use it
Abuse it
Put it at the head
Whatever you do
Just don’t lose it

The cost will not be too great
Just a few fine hair fractures
Will slowly grow down the vase
Sometimes the weight will even
Cause that vase to shatter
Collateral damage, that's ok
Hoarding power is what matters”

But as power
A gentle and precious gift
Is moved from beneath
Reaching out to hold up the sides
Instead is hoarded at the center

Placed at the top
What remains is that cement block
Lifted high
And then we bow in worship
Sacrificing all
Even our children
Because we cannot bear to lose it

But it’s not simply the ones who hoard power
Who want to possess it
But the snake slides by the weak
And reminds them of the times
They unjustly had their rightful gifts
Possessed
They tasted at young ages
The feelings that emerged
When the little power they had
Was taken, exploited, dismissed
Or they are reminded the cost to their people
The disdain as their neighbors
Listened to their broken language
And organized to keep away
Their collective power

The serpent reminds them
the sting of shame remains
And the only way to erase it
Is to find a way to possess
Power
Distant, at the center
It feels so far out of reach
“So climb the mountain”
The serpent says and grab
The very thing that fractured your people
And brought your soul so much pain
You will use it better
When you get to the top and possess
More power

Father, forgive us for hoarding power
Help us to release our passionate grip
Like Christ who poured out all his power
On an oppressive cross
Might your Spirit show us
How to hold power
In sacrificial service
Distributed to every person
Unlocking the hidden potential
The power embedded within each member
Of your creation
And then we can watch in awe
As Christ reigns
And rules the kingdom
In power