Our deepest fear . . . .

I ran across this quote the other day and thought the message was something every one of us needed to be reminded of frequently.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It's 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 doesn't serve the world. There's 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're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural speech)

Now while I might not totally agree with his terms of "brilliant, gorgeous and fabulous," (though I would most happily apply that to all of you marvelous ladies!) I do have to agree with the "talented." We've discovered our talent with words and feelings or we wouldn't be in this business. And if we don't let our light shine, the world will be a much darker place. There will be so much left undone that we could have done: budding talents to bolster and nourish; gifts of words that never were shared; thoughts and ideas that never came to fruition.

Our confidence in what we can do, our love of what we do, our assurance in our God-given abilities can and will help everyone who comes within our sphere of light. We have a responsibility to share what we've been given and help nurture those who are coming behind us. So let's be grateful for what we have, share it boldly and gladly, and know that we can make the world a better place because we were here - and let our light shine forth gloriously.