6.13.2007

light to dark; dark to light

I ran across this quote, and have been thinking about it a bit. I thought that I'd share...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson, from her book "A Return to Love"

Labels:

3 Comments:

Blogger Yi said...

Love it :)

6/14/2007 7:05 AM  
Blogger Al said...

Thought provoking. I'm not sure how much I agree, but it's definitely thought provoking. It's the sort of thing I'd love to put on a theological essay exam: "Discuss this quote. Defend your position."

6/17/2007 1:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The quote is suppose to be self-esteem building, I presume, but it makes me uncomfortable. Yes we are to let our light shine forth in the world (Matthew 5:14-16), but it is not so that we "conquer our fear" of being "brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous" and making others insecure, but so that men will see our good deeds and praise God.

Letting the Light of Christ shine through our lives doesn't make people insecure because it's not about "I'm better than you" but instead "please recognize your sin condition" for "...men love darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil"; and for others to recognize that what we have been able to accomplish has all been done through God. (John 3:19-21)

Scripture also warns against not giving God the glory and praise that He deserves; those thinking themselves wise will become fools. (Romans 1:21-22) The bottom line is, let our light shine in this dark world so that God (not we) will be glorified.

7/17/2007 6:05 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home