This is a piece I wrote about six months ago. At that time, several of my friends and I were going through difficulties due to ‘power hungry’ types, and it occurred to me that the irony in all of this was that, as we endured, we were evolving. We grew more focused, developed a healthier spiritual life and greater self-esteem.

The keys to our success were patience and steadfastness—qualities recommended by others who had survived persecutions. One by one, each of us either walked away from our oppressors (on our own terms), or the oppressors found easier victims.

I hope this piece will encourage anyone who’s caught in such a situation now.

Accumulate power!

Then you’ll be able to do all things.
No one will be able to stop you.
You will be invincible…

Beware the Hand that comforts and keeps your secrets!

Then you will be impenetrable.
No one will know your truths.
You will have full control.

Forsake goodness and mercy!

They will make you soft,
And allow your heart to feel, to be injured…
To know right from wrong.

Who needs a heart anyway?

It’s a cold, cold world.
Only the strongest should survive…
The weak should perish! Fall down hard with shame...

Even though they will be
The special ones who find
The richest blessings of God;

Those that await the most humble of men,
Defenseless ones who seek safeguard;

And find that His Power

Is the Greatest Power
Of All.