“Coming to terms with and making peace with our own powerlessness is the main aspect of letting go of control. In essence, we redefine powerlessness; rather than seeing it as a threat, we see it as the waiting room where we have our encounters with God and His providence…Eventually we reach a point where we see that the space of our own powerlessness is precisely the space where God acts, where He surprises us. It is here that we most clearly see God’s providence and activity. It truly is the space of miracles. Indeed, God often drops the most beautiful gifts into our lap when we are powerless and not in control.” (Fr. Joshua Makoul)
“It is the innocence, weakness, and powerlessness of the poor that seems to create fertile ground for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The struggle for those of us within the middle-class (I do not imagine many of the poor read my blog) can often be described as seeking to acquire by virtue what many of the poor have by necessity. Is it any wonder that the monastic life seeks the weakness of poverty? I think we often elevate monastics like a spiritual talisman while we intend to do everything in our power to be nothing like them.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“The 12-Step model strongly asserts that genuine recovery can only begin with each person only after the bravest act of courage and humility, when the “penitent” unconditionally acknowledges his or her powerlessness over this activity. These persons must declare that their lives have become “totally unmanageable” because of their addiction and that God alone is able to restore life to sanity. As a result of this unconditional surrender, they immediately turn their lives over to Him before taking another step forward. And this act is repeated one day at a time, day after day. For me as…[a] Christian living in contemporary society, this approach to repentance feels eerily familiar…usually, in a very good way.” (Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald, MDiv, PhD)
“…when I admit my powerlessness, then I am in position to truly turn my life and my will over to God as I understand Him. And in my powerlessness is my strength.” (Albert S. Rossi, PhD)
“My research on the internet, interesting as they are, cannot in fact supply me with “The Big Picture.” This is means, sad to relate, that I in fact am not in a position to pontificate or fix everyone’s problems. This does not mean that I cannot do anything. As the child’s hymn reminds me, I can still “shine with a clear, pure light.”… In short, part of my “shining with a clear pure light” involves accepting my own powerlessness. I cannot really fix great problems by my words because I lack the wisdom to do so. I can add my voice and make my little contribution to ongoing debates which concern me (assuming that they really do concern me), but I must do so realizing that I lack “The Big Picture.” At the end of the day, I remain confined to my small corner, as you do to yours. But that is okay, and the realization of it can be liberating. For on the Last Day, the Lord will not demand of me why I did not weigh in on every single debate and fix His world, but rather on how clearly I shone, and how fervently I prayed.” (Fr. Lawrence Farley)
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