Give It Away

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature [of] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. – Philippians 2:5b-7 (NIV) 

Have you ever seen a six-year-old put both hands on her tiny hips and say, “You’re not the boss of me”? Someone thinks she wants to be in charge. Indeed, our purpose in life is to become more agentive over time. Diapers come to mind. 

Power is a hard subject no matter the age. We could go back into diapers and have some unnecessary shame about it, forgetting our other depend-encies over time. That grace could even help our six-year-old. 

The Bible is clear about power. Power is wonderful if we give it away. God uses God’s power to give it away. God wants that six-year-old to have agency in overseeing her direction and in entering a mutuality with the Other and others around her. We get power to give it away. Kenosis is the method. Kenosis means self-emptying, the chosen decision to empty.  

We fill to empty. We empty to fill. We are like pitchers, pouring out energy into the universe and then we need a refill. 

I hate to bring up gas stations but if your spiritual car is running on empty you understand. You will not get far. And none of us can forget the unfortunate, potentially sinful, things we have done when running on empty. “She just needs a little rest “ is not always a patronizing thing to say. 

The child is right. You’re not the boss of her. Nobody is the boss but God. And God, remarkably, gave all the power away. God seeks a mutuality of mentoring, parenting, aging. So may we. 

Prayer
Bring us to powerful love, O God; keep us from loveless power. Direct our ways and our days. Amen.

About the Author
Donna Schaper is the Pastor of the Congregational Church of Austin (COA). Her book Rooted in Resurrection is a garden memoir and includes spiritual and horticultural advice in its meditations.