Lenten Journal: I am Powerless

Some of the best movies and stories revolve around the fight between good and evil over power and control. Frodo and the Dark Forces of Sauron battle over control of the powerful ring. Spartacus and the Romans battle over the power of freedom and control of human beings as slaves. Batman battles crime lords and criminally insane characters for control over Gotham. We all seek power and control in some form.

I read today that the Pope is resigning at the end of the month. I read a lot of jokes about it too: "I know what the Pope is giving up for Lent." "Pope joins Twitter and then two months later resigns. Some people can't handle social media." If we were able to move past the obvious jokes I think we would see a watershed moment. For the first time since the Middle Ages, a man, chosen to be the head of the Catholic church, whom is clothed in immense power, chooses to give up that power because he can no longer carry on the duties that come with it.

To give up such power and control in today's world is something we do not hear of very often. Sure people give up their power and control when they are forced to by scandal or under threat or through a takeover, but rarely do we hear about one giving up power voluntarily. The Pope exemplifies Christlike leadership in this moment.

As I get ready to approach Lent, I found myself drawn to the struggles of power and control in the scriptures. I read the temptation of Christ for the 50th time and discovered that underneath every temptation laid the issue of power and control. What type of a messiah would Jesus be: a powerful leader or a humble servant?

Power and control: something that perhaps binds us all and something that needs to be let go of.

I am looking off in the distance and I am preparing for this Lenten journey. I am discovering those areas where I seek power and control and I am practicing releasing them. I am unbinding myself from such things and I hope to be free.

I am powerless.

I am powerless; that is what this long winding road is revealing to me. To be a better leader, father, husband, pastor, son, brother, and friend, I need to relinquish the power that binds me and the control that ties me. I must be powerless if I wish to carry my cross and follow Christ because I know where he is going and I must go with him.

This will be my last blog post (besides posting my sermons) during Lent. I am giving up this space so that others might share their stories.