I have been intrigued by the week's events surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II. Many of you may also be intrigued. I'm drawn to the orderly arrangement of events and the spirituality that seems to guide the order ? and the events. Every color, every symbol, every nuance has meaning that goes beyond what is seen and heard and experienced. For me, at least, there is some real power in watching this story unfold.

Maybe that's because for the first time in my adult life I am aware of the significance for our Christian brothers and sisters who are confessing Catholics as a new pontiff is chosen. In 1978, when John Paul II took his place of service, the papacy was pretty far removed from my thoughts. I knew precious little and understood even less. I suppose all of us can remember a time like that.

One characteristic of the Pope's life that has intrigued me this week is that I have heard him spoken of by those around him as a man of power. He sure didn't exude power ? at least not by his stature or his physique. Especially in the last months, or maybe even years of his life, he wasn't a powerful looking figure. Moreover, the last visuals of the Pope from the window of his apartment were not scenes of power. His voice too weak to speak. His hands too shaky to hold the paper from which he was trying to read. And, still people spoke of his power. That seemed odd. Maybe because power, real power is so easily misconstrued.

Power, particularly the power after which we often chase, is often seductive and intoxicating. We believe that we can, and to some degree ought to, control people, programs, or situations by flexing or withholding the power we possess. Henri J. M. Nouwen disagrees. Nouwen is a wonderful writer and a deeply spiritual thinker. He believes that instead of flexing and withholding we should be working harder and loving more. He writes this about power. " What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it's that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life."

Nouwen is on target. All that we need to know about power is found in the word love. Power that is manifested in love is power that is used for the good of the church by God. Power that is manifested by any motive other than love is power misused. From time to time, it's healthy for us to evaluate the role that power plays in our lives. We need to discover those healthy uses of power and expand them. Likewise, we need to find those uses of power that are detrimental to the good of the church and work to remedy ourselves of them.

Power, real power, is not found in that which we demand from others or withhold from others. Real power is found in obedience, humility, and commitment to the way of God.

Grace and peace