Power Games

[poliphilo]

 One of the very many reasons I gave up being a priest is because I was enjoying the politics too much and realised it was bad for me. Now, as a Quaker elder I've got a little footling power again and am making decisions that ruffle feathers- and I hate it. Well, that's progress, I think. 

It's like Ailz said, the people who hate wielding power are the people who should be doing it, not the people who find it fun.

Comments

[paserbyp]

Роре is a priest and enjoying the politics? I don’t see any conflicts?

[poliphilo]

We'll see how he does....

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

True, though you have to be careful to burn out. Doing things you hate tends to be bad for people.

That said, at least Quakers are good at peace and calm, less likely to create mayhem than most other congregations.

Re: Yes ...

[poliphilo]

Yes, indeed. I'm adamant about not taking on too much. A Quaker friend of one who finds it harder than I do to say "no" to the jobs he's offered is dangerously close to burn-out. Quakers major on being peaceful, but don't always succeed- and there always seems to be some kind of drama going on.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

... and that one person who can't seem to shut up.

Re: Yes ...

[poliphilo]

He's a good person- my talkative friend. One of the best people I've ever come across- he just has this one tiresome characteristic....

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I think chatty Quakers are safety valves. Like, everyone else manages to throttle down their output, so it all spurs out the one tap that won't close fully.

Re: Yes ...

[poliphilo]

That makes sense....

[qatsi]

I think Ailz is absolutely right about that.