thoughts on the news of the day: light

hmmm…..

            The internet news reports today that Michelle Obama, our First Lady, is meeting with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Mandela now is a frail 92 year old who spent 20 minutes or so with Michelle and her two daughters.  So today would be a good day to be reminded of all the wonderful things that Mandela has said over his years of incarceration and later vindication.

            One that is my particular favorite goes like this:

            “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.”

            This was quoted by Mandela in his Inauguration speech in 1994 and is commonly attributed as being written by him.  It is actually a quote from Marianne Williamson in her book, A Return to Love: Reflections on a Course in Miracles.   

            But irregardless of who said it or who wrote it, it is a statement for all of us, all of the time.

            hmmm…..