The Paradox of Power
Who doesn’t want to be powerful? Not necessarily holding positions of power, but in the sense of being heard, certainly in terms of having your opinions respected and honoured as valuable.
Recorded on Sunday 24 October 2021. Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0DUCxzVZNaI
Aside from “Paradoxes of Group Life” by Smith and Berg, I delve into the book, “Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when the stakes are high”
A crucial conversation is found where there are … Opposing opinions High stakes Strong emotions (P. 2)
“We asked people to identify who they thought were their most effective colleagues. … We wanted to find those who were not just influential, but who were far more influential than the rest.” (p. 19)
Powerful people refuse to make the Fool’s Choice: “The mistake most of us make is we believe we have to choose between telling the truth and keeping a friend.” (p. 22)
Powerful people are committed to finding the truth of the matter, far more than they are committed to their own opinions.
“Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34,35) “If you love Me, keep My commandments. … He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. …” (John 14:15, 21)
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. … This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:10, 12)
“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
“… no other government than the government of mutual love can operate in the heavens, and the government of mutual love is heavenly government.” (Heaven and Hell, paragraph 213)
“Such governors do not domineer or dictate, but minister and serve, for to do good to others from the love of good is to serve, and to provide for its being done is to minister. Nor do they make themselves greater than others, but less.” (Heaven and Hell, paragraph 218)
It may be obvious, but it isn’t easy, is it?! What stands in our way? What prevents us from exercising true heavenly power? The same thing that prevents our entry into heaven:
“… to enter upon the way to heaven is not so difficult as many believe. The sole difficulty lies in being able to resist the love of self and the world, and to prevent their becoming dominant; for this is the source of all evils.” (Heaven and Hell, paragraph 359)