love will remain

“We are only just beginning to understand the power of love because we are just beginning to understand the weakness of force and aggression.”

― B.F. Skinner, Walden Two

“I'm the caring type also. I care aggressively. That's just who I am.”

― Salman Rushdie, Quichotte

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What it about the lust for power?

What is behind this need to have power “over” others,

And why this need to use that power,

Often abusively?

This is the question that lingers in my head

as I watch camouflaged mostly white mostly men

parade through the streets

posturing

with one intent

to intimidate

to bully

that is the question

as I listen to right wing church leaders

back evil

as I watch those who claim to follow

the way the truth and the life

back a person who lies

support the minimization of women

exclude LGBTQI people

cheer the incarceration of vulnerable immigrants

This is the question

As I watch my country

Attempt to bully the world

Siding with other abusive nations

Why do husbands, sometimes wives

Parents

Teachers

Bosses

Police

Soldiers

Politicians

Abuse power?

Perhaps it is hardwired into our nature

With Adam and Even

Who had it all

Wanting more

Wanting to “be like God”

a wish for power

Perhaps it is something pathological

Something alien to our nature as

Sacred Children

Something found in all

A hint

But found in some

A drive a hunger

That defines

And shapes

Becomes a gun packed

A fist curled

A harsh word spoken

Violence

Perhaps it is

As some suggest fear

Those swaggering camo clad

Gun carrying

Slogan shouting

White power symbol toting

Facades hiding

Fear

That they are losing

That they are less

That they are not superior after all

As if equality were not enough

And yet there are different kinds of power

Power over

Is not the only option

There is aggressive compassion

Aggressive kindness

Aggressive love

Paul once reminded the early followers

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves..”  (Phil 2:3)

Asking those who would walk in the steps of Jesus,

To truly walk in the steps of Jesus

“who, though he was in the form of God,

    did not regard equality with God

    as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

    taking the form of a slave,

    being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

    he humbled himself

    and became obedient to the point of death—

    even death on a cross.”  (Phil. 2:6-8)

the bottom line is this

straight from God’s heart

those aggressive ones

who use force

to create fear

to dominate and control

to minimize and subdue

do not show their strength

they simply show how frail they really are

strength is not to be found on the streets of Richmond, Virginia

Or in the White House

Or in the US Senate

Or in drones

Strength and power are to be found

In the woman who sits by the bed of her dying friend

In the sons who also sit

Holding their mothers hand

True power is held by

The one who is strong enough to listen

Strong enough to give

Strong enough to forgive

Strong enough to lift the other up

Strong enough to be vulnerable

And love

It is an odd kind of power

A cross kind of power

But in the end

When dictators and their kingdoms

Have fallen

The kingdom of love

Will remain