I’ve been reading a book called the “The Dictator’s Handbook.” It’s required reading for my husband’s class that he’s in and he wanted me to read it so we can talk about it. Plus, I like studying human behavior and it’s a good look at those in power. I don’t agree with everything it says and they definitely have some blatant biases, but it’s interesting, nonetheless.
It shows how people come to power and how they stay in power or don’t, depending on mistakes they make. Money has a lot to do with it and people drunk on power are dangerous.
We all think that if we won the lottery, we’d handle it well. Give a little to close family and friends. Put some money away for retirement. Pay off debt. Take a grand trip or two. But, you know, basically live the same as we always have.
We all think we’d have power over the money and not the other way around. Yet, it rarely works out that way.
We all think if we got in a position of power, we’d handle it with dignity and integrity. It’s interesting that we think this because both sides of the political spectrum consistently back and support people who aren’t dignified and lack integrity. We can’t even support people that are worthy of support, I don’t know why we think we’d be that politician or CEO that wouldn’t be corrupted by power.
Power and money, and some other things, too, are immense sources of temptation. They make us forget that God is in charge, but they also give the illusion that we have made it in this life. People cling so desperately to power because they think without it, their lives will lose all purpose.
The desperation is pathetic to watch, but it’s also dangerous. When you will do anything to keep power, morals will be compromised.
I was reading our first reading today from St. Paul to Timothy and he was detailing how a Bishop and a deacon should conduct themselves. They must be “irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitality, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.”
Let’s pray for our leaders, Catholic Pilgrims, in all facets of life. We would struggle with the same temptations if we were in their place.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
