Learning to shine our light

Do you remember those immortal words of Marianne Williamson, an excerpt (and a stroke of genius) from her book A Return to Love?'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure'?It’s actually one of my favourite pieces of prose (something I share with millions of people). But I’m quoting it today for a different reason:'It is our light, not our darkness, that most 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 shrinkingso that other people won't feel insecure around you.Isn’t this so much the truth? And here comes the best bit:'We are all meant to shine, as children do.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 unconsciously giveother people permission to do the same.As we are liberated from our fear,our presence automatically liberates others.'She really says it all in this phrase, doesn't she?So let me ask you a question. What would your life be like if you were to let yourself shine... if you were bold enough to let your soul speak in what you do and say?I'm going to share with you this extraordinary performance by a little South African girl, a poet in the widest sense, who has somehow learnt to do just that (coincidentally, choosing the same piece of Marianne's prose as her showpiece).The power and passion of this little girl make me shiver. And if an 11 year-old from South Africa can shine her light so openly... then each of us can learn to do the same. Heaven knows, this world needs it!And I'd be interested to know how many minutes you last before the tears start to fall...