Because ‘we’ (you and I, Gentle Reader) are human beings, we are empowered, responsible, response-able and ultimately accountable. This is one of the best kept secrets of many faith-traditions and families (and some societies). We can, and should, decide what to think, do and be and we can, and should, be response-able in doing so (some would say that we should be unconditionally response-able).
However, certain faith-traditions and families want their whips because they want control; indeed they believe it is best for us if they are in control [for ‘whips’ read ‘clergy,’ ‘dogmas,’ ‘creeds,’ parents, grandparents, ‘culture,’ ‘values,’ ‘assumptions,’ prejudices – the list could go on].
Each wants to keep their ‘followers’ in line; this enhances their ‘control.’ AND, many of us collude with them. We like the whip. The whip saves us from having to make up our own mind; the whip saves us from having to be response-able and responsible and even, at times accountable. The whip saves us from having to choose and to freely act.
In response to the ‘Whip’ we even agree to things that we do not really support; we agree for we want to belong; we agree for we don’t want to be shunned; we agree for we don’t want to be marginalized or condemned or ‘punished.’ We give up our power [here is my definition of ‘power’: power = one’s ability to act rooted in moral reflection].
I find it encouraging when a person refuses the whip in his or her life; when a person wants to work it out for him/her self; when a person chooses and embraces being response-able, responsible and accountable. I heard of a man who had worked all of his life in order to please his uncles and one day he woke up and realized that his uncles had died years ago – and he was still trying to please him.
Each day I am reminded in many ways that this is MY LIFE; it is not another’s life. If I am going to be ‘empowered’ and if I am going to choose to be response-able, responsible and accountable then I have to choose to embrace and live my life. This is frightening at times, but it is also affirming and energizing.
Excuse me, I have to go and check to make sure that what I just wrote passes muster with the many ‘Whips’ in my life. . . Or do I?
Searcher-Seeker 