POWER OF VULNERABILITY SPIRITANS.pdf a presentation on leadership

Leadership requires the vulnerability of those in position of power, without which they become tyrants. There is true power in vulnerability.

This presentation is about the power in vulnerability

1. Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
Rome, September 18-19, 2024
THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY
in Leadership
New Superiors Meeting

2. WHEN WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED
OR DON’T TRUST OUR
GOD-GIVEN “POWER WITHIN”
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

3. When we haven’t experienced or don’t
trust our God-given “power within,” we
are either afraid of power or we exert too
much of it over others. Enduring
structures of “power over,” like patriarchy,
white supremacy, and rigid capitalism,
have limited most individuals’ power for
so long that it is difficult to imagine
another way. Only very gradually does
human consciousness come to a selfless
use of power, the sharing of power, or
even a benevolent use of power—in
church, politics, or families.

4. GROWTH HIERARCHIES
VERSUS
DOMINATION HIERARCHIES

5. Good power is revealed in what Ken
Wilber calls “growth hierarchies,” which are
needed to protect children, the poor, the
entire natural world, and all those without
power. Bad power consists of “domination
hierarchies” in which power is used merely
to protect, maintain, and promote oneself
and one’s group at the expense of others.
Hierarchies in and of themselves are not
inherently bad, but they are very
dangerous for ourselves and others if we
have not done our spiritual work.

6. A prime idea of the Bible, from Genesis
to Revelation, is its very straightforward
critique of misuses of power. From the
very beginning, the Bible undercuts the
power of domination and teaches us
another kind of power: powerlessness
itself. God is able to use unlikely figures
who in one way or another are always
inept, unprepared, and incapable—
powerless in some way. In the Bible, the
bottom, the edge, or the outside is the
privileged spiritual position.

7. This is why biblical revelation is
revolutionary and even subversive. The
so-called “little ones” (Matthew 18:6) or
the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), as
Jesus calls them, are the only teachable
and “growable” ones according to him.
Powerlessness seems to be God’s
starting place. Until we admit that “we
are powerless,” Real Power will not be
recognized, accepted, or even sought.
RICHARD ROHR

8. Powerlessness as “low rank”
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

9. We're all destined to experience low rank
somewhere, whether it's due to social conditions,
aging, illness, or factors out of our control. The
experience we have, when that happens, depends
greatly on whether or not we can embrace it.

10. In our roles as leaders, we are
often reminded of the
multifaceted nature of power
and the diverse ways in which
rank can be accumulated.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

11. It is crucial to acknowledge that
no matter the height of our
leadership role, the reverence
we receive, or the resources at
our disposal, there remain
aspects of our lives where
our rank is indeed low.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

12. This humble recognition calls
us to embody the very essence
of Christ's teachings on humility
and service. It serves as a
poignant reminder that in the
eyes of God, we are all God’s
servants, equally tasked to
serve rather than be served.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

13. Thus, it is important for us, even
as leaders, to recognize that we
cannot have high rank in
every arena of our lives. This
understanding not only keeps
us humble but also enriches our
empathy and compassion
towards others, fostering a
community where all are valued
equally under God's grace.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

14. Let us embrace our roles with
humility, aware that our true
strength lies not in our
structural rank, but in our
service and connection to
God and each other (spiritual
rank).”
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

15. Take, for example, a situation within
your own biological family. Perhaps
your nephew or niece is encountering
difficulties at school with their peers,
struggling with issues that seem
beyond your reach and
understanding. Despite our roles as
guides and mentors to many, we may
find ourselves feeling helpless or
inadequate in guiding our own
loved ones through their trials.

16. In these moments, our vulnerability is apparent. It serves
as a humbling reminder that our congregational leadership
skills do not automatically equip us to handle every
personal challenge. This can lead us to a deeper reliance
on God’s grace and wisdom, driving home the truth that
our competence in one area does not translate universally.
It encourages us to lean not on our own understanding but
to trust more profoundly in the Lord’s guidance and to seek
the support of our community in faith."

17. Accepting—and even
appreciating - low rank
matters. Because up and
down is human. No one
comes into a role fully baked
and ready.
Some of the most
frustrating and bothersome
mistakes happen when we
insist on maintaining a high
rank, refusing to start from
scratch, and try to apply our
high rank from one area to
everywhere else, meddling
in everyone's affairs.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

18. Embracing low-rank moments helps us…
Learn. Acknowledging where
you’re not yet good, not yet there, is
humble and good for you. We’re put
on this earth as imperfect beings,
with lots of room for improvement.
That's a reality we need to
embrace, otherwise, we'll stress
ourselves out completely, along the
way.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

19. Embracing low-rank moments helps us…
Prepare. When you acknowledge
something is unknown and
undeveloped, you’re prepared for
the low-rank experience. Knowing
that, you can ask yourself what you
need to develop— do you need to
develop your network strength and
work on your informal power?
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

20. Embracing low-rank moments helps us…
Be human. Shifting constantly in and
out of high- and low-ranking roles
benefits your emotional and social
development. Low rank socially attunes
you, forcing you to develop your
relationship abilities. When you don’t
have easy access to resources, you rely
on your connections with others. You
have to ask for help, reach out, and
cooperate.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

21. Embracing low-rank moments helps us…
Be strong. Nothing makes you more
vulnerable than the inability to be
vulnerable. If you cannot fail, cannot
be wrong, cannot make a mistake,
you are a sitting duck. Strength comes
from the willingness to have nothing
to lose. Low-rank challenges and life
struggles are the source of some of
our greatest strengths and powers
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

22. Embracing low-rank moments helps us…
Be compassionate. Most people are in
a race to gain status and leave behind
their low-ranking roles in life. But just
racing ahead to get ahead, you might
miss having compassion for where
you’ve been. When you don’t
appreciate your suffering and you deny
the value of your low-rank experiences,
you deny the value of those with less
rank as well.
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
[email protected]

24. •The leader follows the rules, the
elder obeys the spirit.
1

25. •The leader seeks a majority, the
elder stands for everyone.
2

26. •The leader sees trouble and tries
to stop it, the elder sees the
troublemaker as a possible
teacher.
3

27. •The leader strives to be honest;
the elder sees the truth in
everything.
4

28. •The democratic leader supports
democracy; the elder does this too
but also listens to dictators and
ghosts.
5

29. •Leaders try to be better at their
jobs; elders try to get others to
become elders.
6

30. •Leaders try to be wise; elders have
no mind of their own. They follow
the events of nature.
7

31. •The leader needs time to reflect.
The elder needs only a moment to
realize what is happening.
8

32. •The leader knows; the elder learns.
9

33. •The leader needs a strategy; the
elder studies the moment.
10

34. •The leader follows a plan; the
elder honors a direction of a
mysterious and unknown river.
11

35. •The leader resolves the conflict;
the elder transform it.
12