Morning Prayer: "You are girded with power" -Why we admire power
Morning Prayer says of God: You are girded with power. That line always makes me pause, because humans have such a complicated relationship with power—both sacred and secular. Why do people admire power? Why do they seek it, submit to it, fear it, or cling to it? Two perspectives help illuminate the tension. 1. Sacred Power: The Power That Holds Rather Than Controls Sacred power—God’s power—is not domination. It is steadfastness , presence , creative force , moral gravity . It is the kind of power that does not need subjects to prove itself. It simply is . Sacred power reassures. Sacred power steadies. Sacred power invites rather than coerces. When people turn toward God as King, they are often seeking: Order in chaos Meaning in suffering A moral center A relationship with a power that does not exploit Sacred kingship is not about hierarchy; it’s about anchoring. 2. Secular Power: The Power We Give to Other Humans Secular power is different. It is fragile, performative, and de...