Arlene

Paula,

I hear what you are saying and agree. I did not mean to convey the idea of authority over. I am speaking of authority in oneself.

It is a quality of embracing my full personhood in which I know myself. I can differieniate myself from another person. I can speak my own truth and say to another person what I think and believe and feel. I don’t need to have authority over someone… but my own voice has weight and strength. Not authority over… that would be external and coercive… but authority in my person, in my area of expertise or giftedness. It’s an inner thing born of Christ and maturity.

None of this authority is about power or control over someone.