September 19, 2009
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Influence
An excerpt from a book I am reading. I thought it was interesting, and thought I'd share. It is from a book called "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin Raphael McManus. The book has also been published under the title, "Seizing Your Divine Moment." [Comments in brackets have been supplied.]
"Human beings are created with the capacity to influence and be influenced. This is inherent in that we are created as relational beings. It is heightened by the reality that we are not simply intellectual but emotional creatures..."In my experience, one of the places we feel most powerless is out ability to bring positive influence to the world around us. We see so many things that need to be fixed, so many things that could be improved, but no one will seem to listen to our ideas... The solution to the sense of powerlessness, the solution to ending the unethical use of power by men, is to seize the same power and influence and use them the same way. Nothing has changed at the core. No genuine shift in value systems. It's just more crowded at the top with everyone pushing each other off as we lust for more power, more authority, more position."We have lost our confidence in the power of influence, and because of that, we have lost the beauty of its art. The problem with positional power is that while it may control the actions of another human being, it does not capture the heart. God is looking for women and men... who understand, develop, and maximize their sphere of influence."How many times have we concluded that we were powerless to make a difference because the available resources were withheld from us? ...How many young, emerging leaders have been frustrated when those over them no longer demonstrate the level of urgency that moved them to their places of authority? How many times have those in leadership abdicated their responsibility to lead, simply to hold on to what they have? Saul was paralyzed because he had too much to lose...[The book is about what McManus calls the "Jonathan Factor," taken from the verses in 1 Samuel 14, when Jonathan and his armor-bearer scaled a wall and defeated a garrison of Philistines. This, if you remember, required him to disobey his father, who was sleeping with his army under a pomegranate tree.]"As a servant, the young man was required to obey his master. But the armor-bearer expressed more than obedience; he expressed his allegiance... What we find is a deeper loyalty. Not simply loyalty to the nation or king, or loyalty to the son of a king, but loyalty to a man--Jonathan. Title, position, and authority may hold power, but influence travels through relationships. And in the end, influence is the fountainhead of power."The armor-bearer's response unlocked the power of influence: "Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." This is the essence of influence, to win the heart and soul of another person through the strength of your own character and personhood. This is why influence is always more powerful than authority. Authority can shape what a person does, but influence shapes who a person becomes. Influence is born out of trust and finds its strength in the connection of heart and soul."Like Jonathan, we must step into the full extent of our appropriate influence is we are to seize divine moments... Spiritual influence is not only a gift; it is a responsibility."
Comments (2)
whoa... how serendipitous is this after laboring through 2 chapters of Steven Lukes's Power: A Radical View! (this week's reading for my political sociology class. I still have 1 more ch. to finish, but the book is difficult to digest, understandably since it deals with a difficult issue). Lukes talks about what it means to have power, why the endless debate, and why it's important to broaden our conception of power so that it includes influence, suggestions, manipulation, and even inaction as well as unintended consequences. He explains further how power is an inherently contested (and political) idea, because requires you to make value judgements on what is meant by "in one's interests" and responsibility.
So far it's been a fascinating read, but it being an academic book, does not get into the business of spirituality and love. I was reminded of Scott Peck mostly, because Peck also talked about the link between creating change (which involves power) and responsibility. His eventually finds his way to love, then to grace... at this point I lost interest but now looking back I want to revisit what he has to say.
totally fascinating... but now I must obey the power of nature and go to sleep.
@gpspacey - cool. that book sounds interesting. if I had time to devour an academic book, I might. But right now, Feynmann and this McManus guy is enough for me. It's actually quite an interesting book. I always appreciate your insights, Gracie. Miss you, and I'm glad we're still talking about these things, although they're a little more refined than our "infinity"-esque talks. =)
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