What it means to be powerful

 In your mind, picture that guy who is abusing his wife. Trailer house, wife beater shirt, beer bottles on the floor in and out. Starving dogs in their own filth outside the trailer. That guy. Who wants to be that guy? Absolutely none of us. Does he think he's "better than" because he can beat his wife any time at all? Probably. Is he powerful? He is not more powerful than the stuff his dogs are leaving in his yard.

That's what I've been working on lately: what is a powerful man? What is a powerful person? What is real power? Obviously our friend above is not powerful - he's a despicable waste of potential. What about others? Is a rich person powerful? I suspect it depends. If he's using his money to throw his weight around and prove he can get what he wants, he's no different than the trailer trash man. Money doesn't make you powerful - it's something else that causes real power.

What about the politician? The senator or the president? I have never personally met a president of a country, but I have lived through a number of their administrations. The most recent ones are men whose personalities and character I loathe. I wouldn't let them in my home. No matter the party, these men are nothing I'd want to be like. Are they powerful? Not in any way that I respect. Yes, they have the ability to throw their weight around and get what they want.

And again we see that despite their position, these people are not that much different than trailer trash guy.

Rock stars! Are they powerful? Thousands or millions of adoring fans. Drugs, sex and rock and roll. Wasted bodies, no purpose, turn the page.

So what does it mean to be a powerful person? I was reading in Mosiah 11 today. This is where the priests were changed out to suit a king's wishes. What had been God's chosen leaders were changed to suit the political needs of a community that wanted more politically correct (corrupt) men.

And then they started building stuff. Towers, thrones, gold laced chairs, elegant and spacious stuff. Elevated positions. Did the new priests need these symbols of power to support them because they knew that the power didn't come from inside them? I realize that a prophet doesn't need a golden throne to be a prophet - he needs well worn sandals. Or in today's case, shoes. He doesn't need a tower, he needs power that comes from inside himself. From God.

It occurs to me that a person who uses props to pronounce his power (a lambo, expensive furniture, a thoroughly beaten or demoralized wife, stories of their own awesomeness, trophies from 20 years ago, expensive clothing, etc) probably is not and never has been powerful. That person may be miles behind the average Joe that you meet on the street randomly. Power? I don't think so. Surrounded by props? That's true - but it's not power.

I could throw in one more. Knowledge about pro sports. Knowing who should have drafted who in which round, and how it would have been affected by available spending caps is interesting, but it doesn't make a man a real man. It's a prop too.

So if all of the typical signs of power are not powerful, then what does it mean to be a powerful man? Or powerful woman? The answer may be about the most powerful man the universe has ever known: our Creator.

He didn't need props. From my understanding of the bible, he didn't use any. No expensive chairs, no beaten wives, and the crown they placed on his head was placed against his will. His props were the moments when he served others by teaching them and washing their feet.

So what does power mean? Where does it come from? I believe that real power comes only from the inside. From having cleansed the inner vessel to the point that Christ can work with you to lead others. That powerful person can't be recognized by their car, but if your soul is open to them, they can be recognized by the spirit. When you find them, learn from them and support them. Gain from them. Find someone who can lift you - that person is powerful in a real way.

To be clear, it's not money that's the problem. It's how the money is used. If the rich person uses their money to support abused women, that's power. If the money is used to abuse, that's a prop.

May we all search for real power in ourselves, and surround ourselves by others who have real power in themselves. May we fill our souls with real power, then dedicate our lives to sharing that gift we have received.

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