I am very sensitive to “power.” Where it is – and how it is used and abused. The whole current “occupy” movement may in fact be a sense of how the current power situation is in the US – who has it and who doesn’t and the ramifications of an unchecked industrial corporate power system that is not or cannot be sensitive to the common person.
I had power – I lost power – I have power again. How am I using it? How am I facing either a corrupt, negligent, or apathetic system of power in my own setting? Kings have responsibilities to use power in a certain way to care for those who do not have a loud voice – whose stories are not being spoken.
I know this, because this week I had a decision to make to whether pull together a meeting or not pull together a meeting to help someone of the vulnerability secure housing. I was faced with my own issues of whether to push further to get these friends housed, or whether to hand that responsibility to someone else. I could have allowed the discussion to go back into the system. This seems to be what happens so often – not going the extra mile. I almost flinched at a very important moment in the lives of two men. These men have power themselves, and will ultimately I hope have a chance to teach their stories, but in the moment I had to consider the power given to me to make a meeting happen.
I also sat with new friends damaged within a unique church system having to find healing outside of the very supposed system set up for their own care. Most church systems are not harmful, but ones which do not recognize their own sense of power for good or evil, can go easily astray.
I spend most of my time now with the “powerless” primarily because I experienced being on the outside.
Kings not well connected to most neglected are not good kings at all.
I am still captivated by the vision of shalom, of seeking the “holistic welfare” of your community, and that only be doing so will you find your own welfare. We cannot expect to fly in some unrealistic comfort and safety above the insanity of the West Side, East Side, and issues facing homelessness. Not that these cultures are completely crazy, since in many ways they have “saved” my life – but for most they create a sense of fear or at least trepidation at the unknown.
In conversations today at Westmont college, I was told that some students last year thought they were sold a raw deal when they participated in a get to know your city day, only to be confronted with West Side, East Side, and homeless issues. I guess that is not a viable part of our city?
We can’t escape the underbelly of our city – it isn’t all mountains and beaches. And I would expect Jesus followers to be more interested in struggling subcultures than any others…
Many of you are the Kings of the city – you have been given or have power. I bug you on behalf of those who may not have the same power, or who may have it but it needs to be nurtured in them to come to fruition. Recognize your royalty during this time and act responsibly.
