This postI went to Gary Gillum’s retirement address today (he’s been the ancient studies librarian here at BYU for a while, and he’s done a lot of other things — he and I are working on Truman G. Madsen’s new book together, for example). He read a quote that I’ve heard several times and have loved, and it’s something that we really ought to read regularly:
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.
(It’s attributed to Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration speech most of the time, but it’s actually Marianne Williamson.)
I could recast this in my own words, but I think Marianne says it well enough as it is. So, let me just say that I want to see lots of light shining out there, okay? :) (Myself included.)
