The Power of Power

Power: Ability to change and build consciousness; to choose my thoughts and feelings

Here it is: the secret behind the Secret. We have the power to choose how we feel, how we react, how we think.The media is all in a frenzy over the movie and the book, but it's really just New Thought Christian theology. In fact, it's certainly not limited to New Thought. Steven Covey has been preaching response-ability (our innate ability to choose our own response) for years.

Jesus taught us to choose our response when he said, "turn the other cheek."

This is a tough lesson though. There is something within us that would often like to either be victim (they did it!) or blameless (it's the fault of the other idiots!)

The power of Power means that we have to take responsibility for our lives, for our thoughts and for our actions. It's a bitter drink at first, but once we get it, we realize that we really do have the power to change our lives.

Your character arises from your habits;
Your habits arise from your actions;
And your actions arise from the way you think and feel.

It's certainly not as easy as it sounds. We all struggle at times with feelings of powerlessness, guilt, remorse, anger and any other number of bad feelings. Exercising the power of Power means that we have to take control of the way we feel, we have to learn to control our own mind, and by that, we take control of our own lives.

The Power of Faith

The Power of Faith: Ability to say "Yes" to any good thing and have it happen; draws my good from the invisible to the visible.

Faith is more than belief. Belief is an exercise, a mental habit where you place your trust or confidence in some person or thing, usually based on observed evidence. Belief is closer to "acting as if" or "fake it till you make it." Faith moves beyond "belief" and into the realm of "knowing."

In the King James version of the Bible, faith is described as "...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb 11:1

That same passage in the New International Version goes like this: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Here are some questions on faith, just to get the conversation started:

Being "sure of what we hope for..."

What do you hope for? Are you sure that is what you want? Are you sure that it will manifest?

Being "...certain of what we do not see."

Do you have faith in the Universe? Do you feel the fundamental laws of the Universe at work within you? Do you know what these laws are? Are you certain that your life is unfolding based on the thoughts you carry with you? Are you creating your life deliberately, or by default?

What is Faith to you? Why is it important? How do you apply it in your life?

Invoking the Power

This year, I chose two powers: Imagination and Order. It seems like every year, the spirit moves me during the ceremony to pick something that I might not have chosen if I used traditional "logic." For weeks, I had planned on choosing Imagination, just based on what I had read about it as I prepared the programs and the music for the ceremony. But last night, during the meditation and the responsive reading, the power of Order spoke to me. I'd be interested in hearing how you chose your power(s) and what you might be expecting over the next year or so based on your decision.

An Introduction to the Twelve Powers

Each year, during the Holiday Season, a group of us gather to honor our unique gifts and as well as the gifts in ourselves. We associate each Apostle with a power based on the Biblical and historical character of the Apostles, such as Andrew's strength of character when facing execution, or Judas's desire to improve others' lot in life through charity. For each power, we light a candle. During our ceremony, we choose one or more power that we would like to more strongly invoke in our lives during the coming year. From that flame we then light our own candle. As "new age" as this all sounds, it is actually based on sound principles - especially the principle of Intention.

During 2007, I would like to track the effect of this ceremony on people lives. Each month I will post an essay on one of the powers, starting with Faith in January. Readers can comment on the power that they are invoking in their lives, how that process is going and what it is like. For instance, experienced candle-lighters say that by lighting the Love candle, you will bring love into your life, but it might be in unexpected ways.

Feel free to post your comments anonymously if you wish, or feel free to just read.

May peace be with you,

Joe Cooke



The powers and associated Apostles are: Faith (Simon Peter), Strength (Andrew), Love (John), Power (Philip), Imagination (Nathanael Bartholomew), Understanding (Thomas Didymus), Judgment (James, son of Zebedee), Will (Matthew), Order (James, son of Alphaeus), Zeal (Simon the Canaanite), Renunciation (Judas Thaddeaus) and Life (Judas Iscariot)



THE TWELVE POWERS

Faith: Ability to say "Yes" to any good thing and have it happen; draws my good from the invisible to the visible

Strength: Ability to be still and hold my center when I am in chaos; allows me to stick with Divine Ideas

Love: Ability to see and know all as one; ability to desire that only good come to all

Power: Ability to change and build consciousness; to choose my thoughts and feelings

Imagination: Ability to give shape and form to unformed mental energy; vision beyond appearances

Understanding: Ability to know that God stands under all things; knowing how to accomplish; knowing in my own heart

Judgment: Ability to discern, evaluate, and make decisions; allowing Divine Wisdom to flow through me

Will: Ability to be willing to say "Yes" to God; always seeking the good for all

Order: Ability to develop consciousness in proper sequence: mind, body and affairs

Zeal: Ability to move forward through spiritual motivation; results in enthusiasm and joy

Renunciation: Ability to give a "No" response in or to the untrue and undesirable; helps me eliminate errors

Life: Ability to mend, restore, and draw upon the living Christ within us for all functions