Photo: The oldest basket in the world, discovered in a remote cave in the Judean desert, 2021.  (Yaniv Berman / Israel Antiquities Authority)

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  -- Matthew 5:15-16

Our Deepest Fear 

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

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 and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

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.

Poem: Marianne Williamson, from Return to Love, Harper Collins, 1992.

Photo: Adina Voicu (Oltenita, Romania).