Let’s Talk: About Power

By Conference Minister Diane Weible

I’ve been thinking about power this week. I’m sure you all have too.  

I just want to take a few minutes to reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit. We sometimes get so caught up in our day-to-day “to do” list. It feels that there is so much to do and just not enough hours in the day. When we finally call it quits at the end of a long day, we start thinking about what is going to happen tomorrow. Our personal power sources get depleted quickly. 

I recently returned from a wonderful vacation during which I completely unplugged. I needed that. I needed the opportunity to just quiet my mind and my body and my soul. It gave me space to think and to reflect. One of the things I reflected on was how important it is to turn to the right source of power for the recharging that I need to do the work that I have been called to. 

Of course, I’m talking about finding strength from God’s presence in my life and new energy from the movement of the Holy Spirit. When I try to do it all on my own, I grow weary and I feel overwhelmed. When I remember to take time to pray and to meditate and to listen to what God is saying in my life, I find power and I feel charged.  

Before I left on vacation, I was in Washington DC with 21 of my colleagues in Conference Ministry. We had a moment of solidarity on the lawn of the capital before and after making our way to our Senator and Representative’s offices to speak on immigration. Asking our government leaders to do the right thing when it comes to detaining people who are seeking asylum and to treat all people as human beings while standing with my colleagues in ministry from other Conferences was one of those moments that I will never forget. It was a witness that left me feeling charged and hopeful. I found hope in the power of joining with colleagues to speak out on important issues and I felt strength in grounding it in song and prayer and witness.  

No matter how isolated we begin to feel or how much we think it is all up to us to make things happen, leaning in to the importance of colleagues and friends and loved ones to stand with us and walk with us and encourage us is crucial to what it means to be part of a faith family  

I hope that if any of you have lost power during this time, it was for a short time only and by the time you are reading this, things are feeling back to normal. And, I celebrate the charge I get from being in ministry with you, always looking forward to opportunities we have together to listen to God’s Stillspeaking voice in the important work we are called to do.