Our Greatest Fear

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and 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 were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
—– Marianne Williamson

My kids and I watched “Akeelah and the Bee,” last week, in which an 11-year-old, African-American girl comes to embrace her talent as a speller with the help of a mentor played by Laurence Fishburne. His character uses the Williamson quote to help inspire Akeelah toward her quest of becoming a spelling-bee champion. What a great reminder on this Friday that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.