A week or so ago, I wrote about the large billboard I saw on the wall of the international terminal at the Newark airport.  The one that caught my attention with “I AM POWERFUL!”

Friday I learned that one of our Indianapolis Affiliated Women gave a dynamic program at the last meeting based on the song, “Strong Women” (at least I think that is the title).  Everyone said it was awesome.

Every Sunday I think about the power God gave us when He chose to take a rib from Adam’s side (under his heart mind you) to fashion the perfect helpmate for man.  Not an ‘underling’ or a ’slave’ or an ‘inferior creature’.  But a ‘compliment’ who possesses the skills the man doesn’t have - at least in the same measure as ‘woman’.

Why on Sunday?  Why does it come to me on this the day of ‘worship’ for most people who identify with the Christian faith tradition? 

Well, most Christians set aside this one day (or Saturday) as the day to do ‘duty’ to our Heavenly Father as He set forth in the Commandments.  I don’t mean to be demeaning when I use the word ‘duty’; but for some it may be more of a ‘duty’ than an act of worship as Scripture describes what God desires of us.

However, that’s not the subject of today’s chat!

It comes to me because, as I’ve said many times before at this ‘post’; one of the last few bastions where women are not fully recognized for what we bring to the table, is the world’s ‘churches’.  They are, for the most part, still the powerful haven of males.

Are we to desire to aspire to the pastorate?  I don’t know, but then God calls whom He will!  Are we to usurp the role of the male in the congregation?  No! 

But are we to be sent off to the loft with the restriction “not to talk & don’t teach”.  After all, some of the most profound and Biblically accurate teaching I’ve heard has come from the lips of a woman!  Women called to “teach” by the Lord Who had a Hand in their creation.

So, from a strictly practical, non-emotional standpoint - how do we handle the situation.  Do we continue to walk sheepishly to the loft without a wimper or cry?  Do we turn and lash back at the one with blinders who’s shouting - “get back where you belong”? 

Or do we simply walk from the building; never to return to the Sunday sermon and earthly ‘fold’?

Many have!  Others simply walk through the Sunday (or mid-week door); turn a semi-deaf ear and walk out without really engaging.  After all, engaging may be entail some pain.  And who wants that?

Now I don’t meant to generalize!  There are places of worship where the talents, skills, abilities & sensibilities of women are held in very high esteem.  Women have major leadership roles; serve on important committees where her opinion counts as much as the males. 

But all too often, they are few and far between - too far for some of us to travel to come away feeling valued & appreciated.  Come away recognizing and experiencing our own “powerfulness” as women of faith.

So what do we do about the situation?  Can we make a significant impact without giving into a male church stereotype that “women are just busybodies & troublemakers?”  Or worse yet, viewed as this decades “mad feminist” who wishes she had the same ‘plumbing’ as a male (you’ve heard that piece of psychological garbage now haven’t you?).

We can pray!  We can turn to our ’secret place’ and talk to the Lord about the situation and continue to implore change.  As we do, we’ll change  & we may see change in the minds of religious men as well.

But the important thing that comes as a result of spending time in the ’secret place’ is that we’ll get direction, clarity, advice & guidance from Him Who formed us in the womb.

We may even hear, impressed upon our minds, the words ”You  are  Powerful” while in the quiet of the ’secret place’. 

When we do, use  the knowledge of our God-given power that He intended us to use, to make the world a better place - one person, one home, one church, one community - at a time.

And as we do - we will “Be Powerful!”  We’ll no longer be the “worlds’ greatest untapped natural resource.” 

To paraphrase a cute saying I heard recently:  “Woman rises in the morning, puts her feet on the floor & Satan trembles with “she’s up!”

Let’s be that woman!  The one that causes those who would be our enemy whether they know it or not - to “tremble” because . . .

“We’re Up!”

Linda, a fellow journeyer