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\u201cHe gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.[1]<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tuesday night I watched the State of the Union address. I have a love\/hate relationship with the State of the Union address. It\u2019s like one of those car crashes you can\u2019t keep your eyes off of. I always want to watch the President address the country. I\u2019m curious, I want to understand the vision of the current administration, and I like keeping up with current events. Yet every year, no matter whom is the acting President, I always go to bed disgusted by the political games that get played. One side of the room stands, while the other sits. One side of the room applauds, while the other side snickers. Recently, Justice Samuel Alito explained why he doesn\u2019t attend the State of the Union Address anymore, \u201cevery once in a while the president will say something that is nonpartisan. \u2018the United States is a great country.\u2019 \u2018We support our men and women in uniform.\u2019 Then everyone\u2019s applauding and standing\u2026And then we\u2019ll get faked out. The president will then say, \u2018because we\u2019re gonna do this, we\u2019re gonna enact this legislation.\u2019 It\u2019s a very odd experience.[2]<\/a>\u201d The State of the Union is all about power and space and influence. It\u2019s a game that is played to garner influence, and unfortunately it\u2019s rarely used in a positive way.<\/p>\n I wish all leaders, especially political leaders, would stop what they are doing and read MaryKate Morse\u2019s book, Making Room for Leadership: Power, Space and Influence.<\/em> We all have a lot to learn regarding power and Morse deepened my understanding when she described the framework for the various kinds of power exercised in interpersonal relationships. My eyes were opened greatly as Morse described the four social categories of power: expert, character, role, and culture[3]<\/a>. Morse explains that individuals or groups can have one or all four of these social powers and each power can be used for positive or negative effects.<\/p>\n This got me thinking of Jesus\u2019 words in Luke 12:48, \u201cFrom everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.[4]<\/a>\u201d This truth was illustrated well when Morse shared Jesus\u2019 use of power to restore the \u201csinful\u201d woman. Morse said, \u201cThe audaciousness of the sinner woman\u2019s loving act illustrates the capacity of the powerless to influence change, if only someone in power publicly acknowledges the act.[5]<\/a>\u201d That line stopped me in my tracts when I read it. I\u2019d argue that all of us associated with the DMINLGP have been blessed with the four types of social power, we have been given and entrusted with much. Therefore it is our calling to use the power we\u2019ve been given to restore the powerless around us.<\/p>\n One doesn\u2019t need to look very far to see that power is most often used to protect and preserve our own status and agenda. While many, including myself, initially point to politics as the negative example, there are way too many leaders in ministry misusing the power they have been given. MaryKate Morse\u2019s refreshing book reminds us that \u201cwe are made in the image of God. God\u2019s own presence is within us wherever we go, whatever we do\u2026each of us has the responsibility to bring our Christlikeness to the group.[6]<\/a>\u201d This book was a great reminder to slow down and remember my purpose. Any amount of power and presence I\u2019ve been blessed with should be used to love those around us, and to restore and empower those outside the sandbox.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Isa. 40:29 (New Living Translation).<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Erin Fuchs, \u201cJustice Alito Has Very Clear Reasons for Skipping the State of the Union,\u201d Business Insider, January 21, 2015, accessed January 21, 2015,\u00a0http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/why-samuel-alito-doesnt-like-the-state-of-the-union-2015-1#ixzz3PU8pAOQb<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> MaryKate Morse,\u00a0Making Room for Leadership: Power, Space and Influence<\/em>\u00a0(Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2008), 43.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Luke 12:48 (NIV Version).<\/p>\n
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