A Puzzlement

God, I offer myself to Thee – to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always! ~ Third Step Prayer, Alcoholics Anonymous

I stumble often over this prayer, knowing it,
but insisting on editing it. I know better,
but still I wonder...Why not Thy Love, then Thy Power,
and Thy Way of life? Doesn't love come first?
Is the Power thing that important? What's power
without love? The first and greatest command
is to love God, the second to love your neighbor...
Faith, hope and love abide but the greatest is love...
God is love. Where does it say God is power?
(I know, I know. Fourth chapter of 1st Corinthians,
but work with me here.) Why would you lead with the power,
end with the way of life and bury love in the middle?
Well, look at the context. It's a request to take away tough
not for the person praying but to bear witness 
to those I (and God) would help. And it's the power that shows.
These folk knew us or others like us and knew powerlessness.
They see power. And seeing power they can see love,
and they crave love, almost as they crave a sane way of life.
The founders knew best. God, take away my difficulties
to show my pals you give me power...power to love
as well as power to have the way of life beyond my dreams.