At the heart of most, if not all, relationships, interactions or struggle is “power” and the desire to “dominate” or control. But that is power which is external, which some person or group would want to exert on and over you. There is “power over” which is internal and if one has control over that, he or she can withstand the exercise of any power over.
Often people will try to have ‘power over’ you to dominate, subdue, or control you or your life. But there is ‘power within’ too….. And a person with sufficient ‘power within’ can withstand any ‘power over’….. When you take everything from a person, you make that person more powerful once again. Thus…..
You can take everything from a person but you cannot take away his will to be a person
You can stifle a person’s voice, but you cannot take away the brain that does the thinking
You can take away a person’s rights but you cannot take away his humanness
You can trample on the truth but you cannot suppress its rise from the ground
You can walk over a person’s body however you want but you cannot trample on his soul
You can forcefully ride on a person’s bended back but he or she determines the comfort you enjoy
You can demand a person’s obedience but you can only get that love of his or her own volition
You can force a person down but you will have to stay down too to keep him or her down
A person with sufficient “power within” can eventually withstand any “power over”… It may take a while but such a person with enough will power will rise up like the Phoenix to overcome both his or her situation and the “power over”
Of course, power can be for good or evil. One can have the strength of a giant and use that strength like a giant. One can as well have great power within and be a David who conquers a Goliath; or a Rosa Park who refuses to “give up a seat” and ignite a liberation movement.
