LET your light shine
Once I got involved with a project I just didn’t “get.” It seemed flaky, plus I was put off by a key team member. I tried to be pleasant, but I just felt so overwhelmed by her. I thought, “Oh well, I’ll just grin and bear it.”
Soon we had our first meeting. As the day approached, I found myself dreading our interactions. Then, I suddenly realized that I’d been experiencing a persistent inability to hear what this person was saying.
So, when we all gathered, I was determined to listen, quietly and effectively.
What an amazing meeting! All the members of the group were so enthusiastic. And this person I’d been so troubled by — I was just overwhelmed with how much she loves! I saw her riding this amazing sunbeam of Love, and best of all, inviting everyone to ride with her.
Also, I felt so inspired by what this project had brought to this person’s life, it made me want to commit fully. As a result, the project opened up wonderful doors for me, and blessed many other people.
Far from her enthusiasm drowning me (or anyone) out, this beautiful light shining boldly encouraged even more bright lights. And every single interaction I’ve had since with this person — this friend! — has been healing, enlightening, and empowering.
Here’s my huge take-away: don’t be intimidated by someone else’s light, and don’t be afraid to shine as bright as you can. Questions about who is shining brightest are irrelevant. Any honest and sincere shining of your light encourages others to shine too.
Now, this is how I can tell if I’m truly shining: are others deferring to me as a leader in a personal sense? Or are they throwing off limited self-concepts and more clearly reflecting the one Light? Shining always makes others shine. To God the glory.
John Biggs, October 2012.
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Topics: Identity, Self-esteem
thanks very much for sharing this, John. I especially appreciated the comment about not being intimidated by someone else’s light. I need to be alert about that… not to feel sidelined or irrelevant to an activity because of someone else’s approach. It was helpful to be reminded that each of us has a contribution to make, large or small, and we can be “faithful over a few things” by having the humility to actively listen for how we can contribute in a small way while others’ contributions take the lead.
Thank you so much for your sharing and insights, Tina. I love how you brought out the importance humility has, in letting your light shine. Sometimes it seems like letting your light shine requires a lot of energy…but how do you shine if you’re feeling tired? I think your comment illuminates this…you can be faithful over a few things, even if you’re tired :-) and let humility and just yielding to what God is doing be the rule of the day. This Act is really about turning thought to God…it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s shining. Consciously being humble can’t help but show us how we can shine, right then.
The Awful Day
The meeting had been brutal. Lots of criticism and personal attacks. My friend and I felt pretty battered, as attacks had been directed at us. While the meetings weren’t always this bad, they weren’t often filled with brotherly love, either. I couldn’t even think of a way to pray about what was going on.
Weeks before we had visited a butterfly exhibit and bought a chrysalis of a Luna Moth to hatch out at home. People usually think of moths as grey, nondescript things fluttering around a porch light. But Luna Moths are really beautiful. They have a wingspan of up to four and a half inches and are a lovely pale green, with “eyes” etched into their wings to deter predators. (See http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Actias-luna.)
As we were sitting in the kitchen feeling depressed and wondering what to do next, we heard a sound from the top of the stove where we had put the chrysalis. It was hatching!
This seemed like a wonderful antidote to our malaise, so we moved the jar onto the table and watched while the moth emerged. To our horror, what came out looked nothing like the beautiful moth we were expecting. The wings were deformed—stubby and shriveled. How awful to have this on top of everything else.
Desperately, almost in tears, my friend phoned the facility where we’d bought the chrysalis. What had happened? What had we done wrong? Why did we have this awful, deformed creature instead of our beautiful moth?
The person who answered was comforting, if a little amused. Just wait, she said. The moth needs to pump fluid into its wings to expand them. It could take a couple of hours, but in the end we’d have our beautiful moth to release into the night sky. And we did!
We realized that the moth’s beautiful nature could not be taken away or even hidden permanently. Like us! And like the project we were trying to promote.
Finally we had a way to pray about our situation. Things didn’t actually change with that group of people, but soon we were able to move to a different group—where we’ve happily spread our wings to fly!
What a magical story! I too have searched and searched for the place where my light can shine brightest. Wings, light, whatever the metaphor. I love this call to patience, and to trust. Thanks and love to you!
I want to share a video that epitomizes the spirit of this radical act, called “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching.” As the title implies, it’s someone having fun, dancing in public places. Kind of like those “Flash Mob” videos, except with just one person rather than many. (And there are actually 3 videos.) Because… why not just be that fearless to express joy?
VIDEO: Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
After another random shooting in a public space (this time in a mall near Portland, Oregon), a lot of diverse thoughts have been running through my head. Concern about mounting calls for more concealed carry, confusion as to why this could happen in the first place, and even fear for my family’s own safety. If that could happen in Portland, why not here in Bend?
But after just a little while of this (well-intentioned, but) fruitless ruminating, I realized that my focus was all in the wrong place. I was entirely focused on reacting, when the healing – the revealing of God’s work – is really all about persisting in shining.
This tragedy was trying to continue its fatal excuse for a life by tempting me to huddle in and watch every stranger around me with a suspicious eye. But why should that by my response? Why not, instead, shine out with the confidence of being the beloved of Love, and do so with the knowledge that everyone else is, as well? This shining can take many forms – treating people with sincere care for their well-being, taking the time to thank customer service folks or anyone who helps others, forgiving those who don’t treat you as you wish to be treated…but whatever form it takes, it’s always about seeing what God has done and acting in a way that turns thought back to God, good.
This evening, I was getting groceries after a church meeting which had included testimonies of healing which all included some element of interfaith or ecumenical interaction. I was really wanting to treat people as the loved of Love – to show, even in some tiny way, my joy at getting to be in the presence of God’s children. To be honest, sometimes the person I’m the worst at expressing this with is my wife – I certainly don’t mean to take her for granted, but sometimes in my desire to shine with others I neglect the one who’s walking with me all along the way. So tonight I was determined not to do that! If I was going to shine with the world, even if my wife was the only one who felt it, that would be enough!
Now, I don’t have some massive climax to this story. All that happened was that I had the best time yet that I’ve had grocery shopping with my wife. As I was focused on seeing others shine, I was able to prevent my thought from wandering down sarcastic paths when I saw two guys loudly grabbing pizza and beer, and was instead able to mentally embrace them and cherish their safety and that of those around them. I was gratified to catch the eye of a man walking past and to exchange pleasant greetings. And a friendly comment to our check-out lady seemed to brighten her evening. Now that I’m home, I was finally able to write out an email of gratitude to our local police department chaplain for all the work he does and coordinates (an email I’ve been meaning to write for quite some time). And even though bedtime awaits, I’m grateful to get to join in with this lovely, warm community in sharing these thoughts and this story with you all.
I’m really grateful that my response to these attacks on man’s inherent dignity, joy, and ability to shine can be one of even greater persistence in seeing truly. When that night seems to fall, we can either back down and wait for someone else to make the sun rise, or we can turn to God to see how Her glorious light has never left. This community and the joyful trust that’s being nurtured and shared here has been a big part of my learning to shine more clearly, and it’s the spirit of this community which can enable us all to know how to move forward from these events and fears. I’m very grateful to be in y’all’s company (and am grateful for your patience with this long post – longer than I meant it to be!) and am looking forward to how we can keep shining together – and in so doing, to naturally refuse to go down in the dust and be afraid of our neighbors. God is the Source, and we were made to live our lives as what happens when divine Life exists. For all of our sakes, we need to keep shining.
I had an experience yesterday that’s a little difficult to share, but it was such a great lesson that I’m going to go ahead and put it out there.
There’s a guy who lives in my neighborhood who appears to have some kind of social/mental difficulty. Often, on the T, he’ll come up to some random person or another and speak to them very loudly and aggressively. As a woman, I have to admit that when I initially encountered him–maybe three or four years ago–he freaked me out a little, and I kept my distance. But I have seen over time that he’s not dangerous; he just doesn’t seem to have ANY boundaries. So dealing with him isn’t a matter of safety; it’s more just a matter of awkwardness.
Yesterday, while I was waiting for the T, he appeared again. And since I was the only one waiting on the platform, he headed straight for me. I felt that familiar cringe within, but then in that same instant I thought, No. This doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. This is about letting God’s light shine–being that “gentle beam of living Love,” as it says in one of the hymns from the Christian Science hymnal.
Well, it was quite a chat, since the T was about 15 minutes in coming. But afterward, as I boarded, I found myself thinking that I was actually grateful. Sometimes letting our light shine isn’t comfortable, but it’s always a blessing.
But here’s when the really humbling thing happened. As I was thinking these thoughts, I heard this message from God:
“This wasn’t about your light; this was about HIS.”
Oh. Wow. Talk about a merited rebuke! Here I was feeling a wee bit self-righteous about doing my good deed, shining my light, and God was telling me that the real Radical Act was seeing this dear man’s light shining. In fact, this had nothing to do with me at all (other than being a witness to someone else’s divine sonship).
And you know what’s funny? Even though I initially felt chastened, the glow of this experience has stayed with me. I’m grateful!
Jenny, thank you so much for sharing this story. What a gift you gave, of being willing to simply appreciate the light he was shining. I am often reminded of this Bible passage, “In Thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9) Even as your shining was expressed in humbly and gratefully appreciating this man, his light was that much more visible to you! And he definitely felt that love. You may never know the uplift that that brought to his life, but that’s ok :-)
I think this really ties in, as well, with the discussion we were having earlier on here, about if the ‘success’ of the shining is measurable. I know the deep success and healing of this encounter will continue to unfold for you and for him!
Oh! And isn’t this relatable to ‘Turn water into wine’ as well! (They all relate, I know.) But your willingness to see him shine was like an affirmation that there was nothing worthless in him – he was already wine, so to speak, and your treating him as such, instead of only seeing ‘water,’ was such a blessing.
I am really happy about this story, in case you can’t tell already – thank you so much for sharing!
Recently I had the opportunity to help someone else shine. It was raining hard and I was dodging between buildings in the complex where I work. Under one arm I had a big stack of papers. With the other I was holding a big umbrella against the gusting wind.
I got to the doorway of my building and stopped in confusion. It’s a tricky door that takes two hands to open. All of a sudden, not a voice but like a voice, I got the strongest prompting to stand still and wait.
Here’s the sad part of the story — I didn’t do it! Instead I clamped the umbrella handle under my arm and tried to hold the papers between my knees while prying the door open. What a mess!
Seconds later a man I work with came bounding down a flight of stairs toward the door. This man has no arms, just small hands coming from his shoulders. Like a lot of babies did once, supposedly due to some drug. He doesn’t have a lot of physical skills — but he’s FANTASTIC at opening doors, and he loves to do that for everyone. That’s HIS shining. Anyway, sadly, by this time I was halfway inside, dragging a sopping umbrella and scattering wet papers everywhere.
Somewhere else on this site I read someone say they always “orthodox-ly” follow angel messages. That’s me too now — and forever!
Thank you so much for sharing here, Raven. I know that friend is so grateful to know you and appreciates all the times he can shine with you – just as you love shining with him! We all have so much to give…it’s our very nature, isn’t it? Being the expressions, the effects, of God, means we are also the given of God. Giving is who we are – and it’s such an opportunity to shine and enjoy others’ shining.
looking forward to hearing more from you! :-)
This week I’ve been really enjoying acknowledging the light others shine. What gifts they bring to conversation, the ideas and activities they are passionate about, the way their love for life shines. This focus has been a huge help in listening effectively and in being more aware of how our interactions can be a blessing for us all.
Yesterday afternoon I was praying about how I should spend my evening – it had been a wonderful day and I knew that goodness would continue, and I wanted to make sure I was available to see it and live it! I felt inspired to call a friend up and see if he wanted to come over to hang out. Turned out that he’d had a tiring day and was so glad I’d called! We had a great evening over pizza, Wii tennis, and card games, and had some great conversation to boot.
I know this friend is interested in politics, so I jumped into our conversation with that topic. We were having a very pleasant conversation, but as I was focusing on appreciating his light, it became clear that there were other things he wanted to talk about as well. Now, in the past I’ve been sort of socially unsure of how to gracefully switch gears while chatting, but I was so filled with an assurance that both our lights were shining bright that I felt very peaceful about just stopping talking and sitting quietly as we both munched on pizza. It was truly wonderful to see how the joy of this evening didn’t depend on us making stimulating conversation. It was actually really humbling to see how there’s no formula for shining – sometimes being quiet and just enjoying others’ company is the best way to shine a welcoming light. Soon, our conversation started up again and we had a great chat about the churches we go to and even got to share a bit about our own spiritual practices in our day to day lives.
This was a beautiful, simple lesson for me in how shining brightly is not about how much I say or do. Sometimes the best way to give is simply to support an atmosphere where others can freely give, without me deciding how things will go.
I am really thrilled to see how shining comes up today! I am so grateful for this sace where we can all share these victories and healing insights together :-)
“Silence is a solvent that destroys personality, and gives us leave to be great and universal.” ~ RW Emerson
I have also been thinking a lot recently about how to appreciate other people’s light. I love this example, John, because, as you put it, there really is no formula for shining, or for appreciating another’s Christly glow.
That said, I was happy to be reminded–when I was looking at this Radical Act in context–that Jesus does give us some “instructions” surrounding the sharing and giving and appreciating of light:
“Ye are the light of the world,” he said. “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” (Matt. 5:14, 15)
The line that stood out to me was, to paraphrase: “Don’t put that light [yours, or another's] under a bushel (a large basket).” And I realized that I can think of that “bushel” as anything that would try to convince us that someone isn’t shining, or is less than the man/woman God made him/her to be.
Some of the “bushels” I’ve identified in my own thinking recently are: personality, political affiliation, fundamentalism, age, disability, culture, and so on. And it’s been so liberating to realize that when I have a moment where I’m not appreciating someone else’s light–or especially when I feel like I can’t appreciate it, like I can’t even see a pinprick of it–that all I need to do is identify and remove the bushel. The bushel isn’t part of them; it’s just the way mortality would try to obscure our divine son/daughtership. So it’s easily lifted off! Thank you, God.
Wow Jenny I’ve never thought about “bushel” like that before. Thank you so much for this…it’s extremely helpful in many ways!
Thanks! To me, too. :)
John, I want to thank you again for sharing this story, as it proved really helpful to me this weekend. I had plans to get together with a new friend, which I was excited about. But about fifteen minutes into our visit, I found myself starting to a feel a little out of sorts. Conversation was just NOT happening. I mean, it seemed like she genuinely wanted to be there, but most of my conversational prompts seemed to be resulting in largely monosyllabic answers.
It was at that moment, though, that I remembered your experience. And I was so relieved to realize I could just relax and appreciate this friend’s light. I didn’t have to force this get-together, or our conversation, to be any particular thing. Nor did I have to be evaluating whether or not I was having a good time.
There was such joy in thanking God for this friend’s light, and for giving me the openness and quietness of heart that allows another’s light to radiate, and even to grow. I think it was the first time I’ve truly felt comfortable with silence (with someone new, that is), because in that silence, I knew something holy was going on.
And then, before I knew it, we were talking–about all sorts of things. Conversation began to flow naturally, and I found I was learning some wonderful things both about her and from her. It was just a lovely time together. And such a wonderful lesson for all my friendships, now and in the future! Thanks for giving me such a great example to lean on.
Jenny, thanks so much for sharing this story! To be honest, I was really unsure about posting that story – I mean, it sounds really nice all written out like that, but it was just such a pleasant evening, you know? I mean, yeah, it was awesome to have that sense of peace and just revel in this opportunity to see my friend truly shining – we both commented later, as he was leaving, about how grateful we are for each other’s friendship and the stability that we bring to each other’s experience – but it just didn’t seem that radical. But I just had this huge impulse that I needed to share. I am so, so grateful that this little experience from an evening here in Oregon was a blessing and helped shine a light for your amazing afternoon on the east coast!
This is a great reminder to me that Radical isn’t a measurement of pre-conceived size and impact. Radical is the commitment and persistence of turning to God to see just how loved we all are, everywhere. Sometimes it comes out like forgiving, sometimes like befriending, sometimes like abundance. But it’s always healing and it’s always a glorious opportunity to see how bright we all shine.
Thanks for your sharing of truth and love! It felt like I was “ putting on a healing” right along as you wrote..nice!
Hey Janine – really glad to see you here! I love the way you phrased that: “putting on a healing.” Those revelations about who you are, made to shine whole and bright, are always there for us to live out. We can’t be stopped from putting on and living our healings!
Looking forward to hearing more from you!
Don’t cheat the world of your contribution. Give it what you’ve got. -Steven Pressfield
Good statement!
Yeah! Any time we may be tempted to do anything other than shine, if we look at it in the context of being selfish or unselfish it makes a big difference. That is what clarifies my thought whenever I am concerned about if I am being humble, or shy…and when I’m wondering if I’m being attention-grabbing, or bold.
Thanks for sharing that great quote :-)
Susie, To my understanding the word “Light” in Christian Science is not a name for God, but stands for Christ who is in the Godhead, but not the whole of Deity. “Life, Truth, and Love” is the “trinity of good”–representing the wholeness and fullness of God. I think that if you look up the times that Mrs. Eddy capitalizes “Light,” it is in reference to Christ, whom our Leader identifies (and found in Scripture) as “the Holy One of Israel.” We are not Christ, but we are to be Christlike–spiritual man reflecting God and His Christ. I know from Mrs. Eddy’s writings that Buddhism is about man’s absorption into Deity. “Light” is central to the teachings of Buddhism, Eastern thought, theosophy, and these teachings say that we all have a “spark” of the divine–thus all becoming “One Light”. This belief system takes away man’s individuality and identity. Someone mentioned Marianne Williamson in the blogs who I understand to be a New Age teacher who has borrowed from many “faith traditions,” including Christian Science. Borrowing from many other faith traditions is not Christian Science, even if there’s some truth to/in them. Christ and Christian Science insist there is “one only way.” I know that many will not like to hear that, but… Let’s all look at Mary Baker Eddy’s teachings for answers regarding genuine Christian Science. Thank you again, Anne
Good morning Anne,
I so appreciate your love for God and Christ which comes through so clearly in your posts. I’m certainly very grateful that no one in this community or this gathering space is trying to teach Christian Science (or teach anything, as far as I can see!). I know that I participate in this space, and appreciate it, as a global hillside, where we can gather to share the healings, joys and challenges we’ve discovered as we’ve been living what Jesus taught – joining in with the lives changed forever from the multitudes who heard the Sermon on the Mount and followed in Christ Jesus’ footsteps. We might all share in different ways, and as this site is open and welcome for all, some of the sharings here might be very diverse indeed! But we can trust God, divine Mind, to make the spirit of our letters clear. Yes, it’s very important (as you’ve eloquently stated, along with Susie and others throughout the site) to use these words correctly. But now that the letter has been changed to more accurately reflect the spirit of the original post, can’t we jump in with joy, together, to keep exploring this Act (and all of them)?
The reason I love this Radical Act so much is because it highlights for me the vast importance of truly living the gospel, and not just talking about it. The enthusiastic friend I mentioned in my introductory story threw me out of my comfort zone because she was really LIVING her love for that project, while I was just participating out of a sense of reluctant duty. When I was humble enough to just appreciate the light she was shining, it became so clear that God, and her love for God, was the true impulse here – and how could I NOT bask in that light and jump in myself?!
This Radical Act is also making the scriptures come alive for me in fresh ways. I’ve often loved this Bible passage, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9 KJV) As we see more and more clearly through the illumination of divine Life, God, the expressions and outcomes of that Life are all we could truly be impressed with and love.
I’m thrilled to get to keep hearing stories of how others have let their light shine – and to keep exploring and sharing my own experiences – and I look forward to hearing your stories too, should you feel inspired to share! Thanks so much for being here.
In all of Christian Science, the metaphor that brings me the greatest joy and clarity is the sun.
“Mind, supreme over all its formations and governing them all, is the central sun of its own systems of ideas….”
“Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony. This Mind forms ideas, its own images, subdivides and radiates their borrowed light….”
When John refers to the “one Light” above, I take it as shorthand for these beautiful passages. Thanks Anne for illuminating :) that “one” needn’t be capitalized here.
This is all very “New Age”….
This sounds like good-ol’ Christianity to me. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16) and “And as ye would that men should do to you [when you shine], do ye also to them likewise.”
I certainly hope that any God-given light I’m shining with is loved… so I appreciate how John has striven to recognize and love the light of God shining in others.
These are such basic teachings (the golden rule is echoed in over 20 different faith traditions) that I’m not surprised you’ve seen them in New Age teachings, Ann. I imagine several other folks could come on here and say, “This sounds like good-ol’ Judaism to me” or “Good ol’ Buddhism…” or “Good New Age” etc., etc. :)
Susie,
You are right that light is God-given, but is there teaching of “One Light” in Christian Science? That sounds like New Age which I do not and dare not study.
“Christian Science is a reflected glory; it shines with borrowed rays–from Light emitting light. Christian Science is the new-old Christianity, that which was and is the revelation of divine Love.”
“Let you light reflect Light.” (Mrs. Eddy)
Capitalization is important–vital– to Christian Scientists.
“Christian Science is not understood by the writer or the reader who does not comprehend where capital letters should be used in writing about Christian Science.” (Mary Baker Eddy)
New Age is old occultism; it is not “good New Age”. Christian Science uncovers and denounces occultism in its hidden forms.
You say “shining in others”…but “shining through others” is in line with the teachings of Christian Science as taught by Mary Baker Eddy.
We MUST be accurate and particular in how we express this Science, or we cannot demonstrate Christ and Christian Science.
Thank you.
Dear Anne,
Thank you very much for sharing about the importance of correct capitalization. The simplicity of Christ is so healing and so refreshing, but it is crucial that that simplicity and love be communicated clearly when we’re engaged in discussions and gatherings such as this. Thank you for your care in posting. I hope the letter of that introductory story now more clearly reflects the spirit of the joy and healing I’ve found in letting my light shine – and in valuing the light others shine! – and always as it turns thought to God.
What a wonderful garden to blossom in we’re given, as we dive into Jesus’ teachings moment-by-moment, rather than somehow limiting that blossoming to an hour on Sunday.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading even just some of the wonderful healings, realizations, and gifts given and received as folks around the world have engaged with Radical Acts. If you have any stories you’d like to share, I’d love to hear them and I know anyone who passes by here will be so grateful, as well.
Thanks again, Anne. Enjoy this blessed evening (or whenever it is!).
Dear Anne,
I’m not quite sure how you can say something sounds like New Age if you haven’t studied it at least a little…? It looks to me from Wikipedia that New Age borrows ideas from all sorts of faith traditions. While I might not agree with everything they teach, if they agree with this idea, I think that’s a good thing.
As for the teachings of Christian Science, I think you answered your own question about “one Light” with one of the quotes you included: “Christian Science is a reflected glory; it shines with borrowed rays — from Light emitting light.”
As you say, capitalization is important. In that quote, Mary Baker Eddy capitalizes the word “Light”, which means she is using it as a name for God. Since names for God are interchangeable and we can say there is one God, it seems to me like we could say there is one Light.
The daily prayer starts, “Let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me…” and so, perhaps we could say, “Let the reign of divine Light be established in me…” I’m trusting that will rule out any darkness or misapprehension that I or anyone else might entertain about God and/or each other.
I appreciate how this conversation has led to that new perspective – thanks!
Happy with the new Radical Acts btw.
How do you know you’re letting your light shine and not grabbing the spotlight?
I guess I feel like that’s just something each of us needs to be honest about ourselves. As I learned through living the story I shared to kick this Act off, it’s irrelevant if OTHER people think you’re just shining to grab the spotlight. I thought the person who bothered me was just putting on this show to make that project seem awesome, but I discovered she was just humbly, boldly, sharing her love – truly shining.
For me individually, I know I’m not about grabbing the spotlight when I truly love everyone I’m with. I danced for 5 years in college, and I really had to be clear with myself that whether I was the only one on stage, or was in a group of 30, my shining was simply a demonstration of love for my fellow dancers, choreographers, and audience. That lesson has been directly relevant to the rest of my experience as well. True love casts out fear, and it also casts out selfishness, shyness, and any other quality that could try to keep us from shining.
When you love, it’s never about YOU. Shining is just living and sharing your love.
What do you think? What’s been some of the hallmarks when you’ve truly shined?
John, I really can relate to your comments about that person you were working on a project with.
This came to me one day when feelings of being belittled, unworthy and insignificant tried to make me feel small…
One ray of light cannot overshadow another ray. Ever. Every ray of light can only grow brighter together.
What a relief! God just knows how and what to tell me ! I think that’s true for all.
Just tonight, as I was walking from work to the subway, a gorgeous, deep voice was softly singing behind me. I turned to find this beautiful lady singing to herself. Then came a quiet directive in my consciousness – “Talk to her. Tell her thank you.” So I did. I told her she was my angel and to please keep singing, people need to hear it. She completely lit up with a smile from ear-to-ear. She said I was her angel for telling her. We both agreed we were each other’s angels, and then parted ways.
It was also an answer to a prayer I didn’t know I had, which lifted me out of self-pity.
Hey McLean! Thanks so much for sharing your story and shining your light. Isn’t it amazing how often that gentle voice comes in, urging us to shine? I just love the graceful way your shining encouraged the singer to know her own light. What a wonderful opportunity to see how your lights shining made a difference for each other.
That brings up a question for you and all here. How do you persist in shining, when you can’t tell what difference it’s making or what’s being illuminated? What if that lady hadn’t smiled – would you have felt that that impulsion to shine was a failure?
What’s our motivation for shining?
Hi John,
You asked – “How do you persist in shining, when you can’t tell what difference it’s making or what’s being illuminated?”
…one way to look at it is no one has a choice in the matter. We each can’t help but shine. I’m thinking that is true in the metaphor that we are each God’s reflection, as Genesis 1 puts it. We are the very outcome of God’s doing, seeing, hearing, being, loving, living and cannot be severed from Her. Ever.
It would seem otherwise sometimes. Especially when those around us or even negative thoughts that come into our own consciousness, try to derail, demean, or threaten. God can’t be threatened. We reflect the conscious awareness of Her good for all. We are in fact Her goodness made evident. Who God is and who we are as God’s reflection isn’t up for debate. Just like darkness can’t severe any ray of light from the light.
Maybe that’s why I like the Beatitudes so much, because for me, each one is a promise! Like: Blessed are they who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for they will be filled. Even when we feel spiritually empty…or low on love, money, health…God is providing, and we are blessed. Not when we “get there” but right now. Not when things look perfect, but right now. Not when we get that job, partner, grade, etc. but right now.
Also, “What if that lady hadn’t smiled - would you have felt that that impulsion to shine was a failure?”
I don’t know, that’s an interesting question. Do you or other folks have thoughts about it?
Love this, McLean! Thanks for sharing. I especially was drawn to “not when we ‘get there’ but right now.” Isn’t that often the suggestion, that we have to wait to know the fruits of our labor. I think it’s that sense of waiting, or of conditional success, which might convince us that we’re not shining effectively, or that we shouldn’t have that be a focus.
And for the question you and I both closed with, no, I don’t think that shining would have been a failure at all. I think that’s the question which gets right to the heart of this Radical Act, I think – what makes us, as people, a success or a failure? Are we looking to others’ approval, or some pre-determined response, to tell us the success of our shining – of our being who we are? Do other people tell us when we’re shining or not?
I feel that’s what Christ is telling us, who we are as the effect of God and how divine Life is lived. When we yield to that assurance of love, I think that’s when we shine.
“Questions about who is shining brightest are irrelevant.” John, you spoke straight to my heart with this line. How many times do we lose out on the good someone has to offer because we’re so focused on who’s the best or brightest, or on who’s winning whatever competition we believe we’re involved in?
I may have mentioned this in another post before, but one of the greatest thought-shifts I had during college could be encapsulated by your well-articulated sentiment about competitiveness. I was extremely competitive in high school and college–to the point where I sometimes couldn’t appreciate the wonderful insights that other students would share because I was so focused on whether they were outshining me, or because I was feeling jealous that they were. But at the beginning of my senior year in college, something happened that changed all that. I became an RA, with a group of 15 freshmen to look after. And dealing with these freshmen–drawing on all the resources of patience and love and humility that I had to offer–made me realize that I would really rather have others know me as loving than as the smartest one in the room. Love could make such a huge difference! I was seeing that on a daily basis. The glow of being smart lasted such a short time in comparison with the glow of truly giving of myself.
I started approaching everyone with this kind of love. I became more appreciative of the other students in my classes, and I found I was able to enjoy their brightness–and even better, to see that someone else’s brightness could take nothing away from my own, and vice versa. It’s just like you said: I was seeing that “Questions about who is shining brightest are irrelevant.”
The best payoff, though, was seeing how true brightness–the brightness that expresses God’s love–encouraged everyone to shine more brightly. A few weeks before the end of the first semester, one of my frosh remarked that there was “something different about our hall.” She told me that her friends loved visiting her on our floor because they felt so loved–that it felt like a place where everyone was welcome and everyone belonged. I know no light of my own would ever have been big enough to accomplish that…but reflected the light of God’s love? No problem. :)
Hey Jenny! Love that story – thanks so much for sharing! Isn’t it wonderful to bask in the warm light of divine Love?
I love that idea of striving together! A great way to think about competition, or anything else that would seem polarizing. Thanks, John.
Hey John,
I had a similar experience once. I was mentally resisting working with a new co-worker. She had ideas, lots of them, but they all seemed like more work to me. ha ha. Once or twice I left meetings with a headache. Finally I turned to God and said, “Help me out here Father.” Right away I got an answer. ”Bend.” Bend? Seriously? Why do I always have to compromise? Again, “Bend.”
So I got really still. I’m not going to ignore God twice when She’s talking to me clearly.
All of the sudden, I thought of a way to make one of that co-workers ideas work. I picked up the phone and in our discussion we came up with a 3rd option — much better than either of the 2 other choices.
And from then on, that work relationship was smooth, super productive, and it became a strong friendship, one that keeps giving me gifts every day.
I’m just realizing here that I don’t think I’ve had a headache since. Hmmm. Radical Acts bring blessings, for sure.
I know! Sometimes our opportunity to shine doesn’t seem much like shining; since when is compromising, shining?!
But it TOTALLY WAS, wasn’t it? I think you’ve hit on a key point of what it means to shine: it’s all about yielding to the presence of good as an actual power (the only power, even) and boldly letting your life simply be what happens when good exists. It’s truly selfless. It’s not something we can necessarily define ahead of time, even. It requires being consistently present, and not lost in wonderings and regrets.
Thanks so much for these insights, Amy! So grateful for this space for us all to gather and shine :-)
I love that quote from Nina, and I really love that video, John! (especially that they included that little girl “parallel parking” her bicycle) Thank you both. :)
You bet, Gordon! Glad you enjoyed :-) Shining is a truly diverse thing, isn’t it. No shining light is too small!
I love that quote, Nina! I especially love this sentence: “It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.” Life truly is always inviting us to see and BE a Festival of Lights.
I wanted to share a video I like to watch sometimes that gets me really pumped up about shining. It might not be what you’re expecting…but if you decide to watch it, consider what it would take to get YOU to live your whole day (or life!) that boldly and brightly, and inspiring others while you’re at it.
VIDEO: People are awesome!
Beautiful! Reminds me of that famous quote by Marianne Williamson:
“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’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 others permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”