I left our first cohort session feeling both challenged and hopeful. I was challenged by one of Dr. Ruth Padilla Deborst’s opening statements that in the west there is an assumption that power gives those in power the right to impose their views on others. I have experienced this from people in power over me and it was so demeaning. And, I think it is likely that I have inadvertently imposed my views when I was the one with the power. I was challenged to consider my own blind spots when I am the one in the place of power. I also wonder how I can continue to glean the wisdom of leaders and peacemakers who are not western and white. At the same time I felt hopeful because it felt like an invitation to decolonize my views and spiritual formation.
It was so energizing and hopeful to hear from Ruth because I want to tangibly participate in peacemaking in our world and she gave me the impression that we could join her (and others around the world) in this work. But then she casually mentioned that her husband was murdered and while I don’t know any of the circumstances around the murder, I froze as I realized the real consequences for upsetting the power structures and status quo. I felt challenged to count the cost.
I walked away from the cohort meeting reflecting on threat: both perceived threat and actual threat. I wondered how each is present in conflict and peacemaking. There are leaders in our world right now who are so driven by the perceived threat to their power that they are making decisions that harm those they are “leading” so they can hold onto their power.
Again, I wondered first if I have subconsciously clung to power at the cost to others. And then I reflected on experiences where I have come across as threatening to others. I wondered about how to become a “good threat” to power in a productive way that leads to liberation.
3 comments
Thanks Claire for this reflection. I particularly like your ending statement: I wondered about how to become a “good threat” to power in a productive way that leads to liberation. It reminds me of a favorite quote spoken by Civil Rights leader Representative John Lewis. He said: “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” He is one who definitely suffered the consequences of standing up to power. And while I don’t mind being the one who draws attention to the disparity of power, I have not suffered any consequences beyond making others uncomfortable and sometimes angry. I would like to think I would still be willing to cause this “good trouble”” even when there are real consequences but if I am being completely honest, I just don’t know.
I really appreciate your reflection on power and think it is so key to all that is happening today. It seems like the drive to hoard money, wealth, and power is the root of so many evils and harm in our world. I wonder how we can call people to a higher place, when in doing so, this very act is threatening their power.
Again, I wondered first if I have subconsciously clung to power at the cost to others. And then I reflected on experiences where I have come across as threatening to others. I wondered about how to become a “good threat” to power in a productive way that leads to liberation.
I love the idea of being a “good threat” to power. This is such a profound concept that is so uniquely Christ-like at its core. I appreciate the vulnerable way you took the critiques of power and weighed them against your own choices/experiences. I resonate with the desire to consider our blind spots so that we can avoid the same pitfalls in our own areas of leadership. I wonder how we might move forward in compassionate love while still gaining ground against the deeply entrenched powers that are willing to harm those they are leading.