Showing your light
Holy books have several passages that insist on not hiding our light. Yet, we insist on diminishing and belittling ourselves daily. In a society that praises instant success and discards tradition, hard work and positive values, we are constantly reminded on TV, the news and social media that we should aim to be like someone else, achieve a certain standard or just not to care at all.
“Your body should be healthier” or “own your body even if you look like a balloon,” “pay attention to this or that historical figure and how they changed the world for the better” or “accept yourself even if your life will not impact positively anybody,” “aim high” or “do not aim at all,” “save humanity” or “be careless,” and so many other contradictory messages are around us. Yet, most people go on autopilot from one extreme to the other, one day feeling empowered about who and how they are and the next day trapped in anxiety, depression and unhappiness.
The key is simple: ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others…” (Matthew 5:14-16). It is not about mirroring or pleasing others or some external specifications. It is about honouring who you are and acknowledging we all have a different gift. There is a proviso: the gift is not yours. You are only responsible of protecting and sharing the gift you have been given with others. And the caveat too implies the bigger the gift, the bigger the responsibility and, most probably, the inner and outer challenges.
Because the gift is for you to share with others, avoid self-centeredness and self-righteousness, two of the many inner challenges. Remember you are a vessel and your job is to channel the light within and be a beacon for others. As important as the inner challenges, rest assured you will have to face outer resistance. In a previous post, we have already mentioned all these challenges and relevant defences and we will explore them in detail in the future. The post today is solely here to remind you about your gift and the fact you have two options: to honour your light and let it shine or to hide it.
In a message that illustrates both inner and outer challenges, Rumi said it well: “Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah…it makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.” On the surface, “people” here may appear to be the external challenge but it will be your own, for example, feeling of embarrassment or inadequacy that may stop you from shining bright. “People” will still be there whether you glow or not. Moreover, “huge” and the reference to “Noah” do not mean you have to change the world or become the Prime Minister overnight. It means that, regardless of who you are, there is a “knowing” in you that you should follow. Be the best Mum, the most resourceful personal assistant, the wisest philosopher, the fastest typewriter you can be. Again, remember, this is about you and your own light. This is not a competition. The previously mentioned examples seem to suggest comparisons in which one individual is somehow better that another one or the whole. Wrong interpretation (and surely, an interpretation that will fit perfectly with our ego). More precisely, your gift is your responsibility and you do not need to compare yourself with anything or anybody else to “know” if you honour your call or not. There is a deep certainty that will shine through regardless of any externality when you give your all.
In brief, you are now transiting the physical realm. Your soul decided to be or was sent here. Whether you chose to be here or you were sent for a reason is irrelevant. You are playing the game called life. Because we are living in a physical vessel we have to comply with the laws of physics. Yet, your soul is still here. The same is true about your light. Simply put, your soul is luminous. There is no need to ignite, accept or acknowledge this. Trust me, trust yourself, as I know, you too do. What separates you from shining is not your ability but your will. You may choose to honour God, Allah, the Universe, the Source, the Eternal, the One, the Many and do it. It is easier than that. Surrender. Choose to honour yourself and shine. Because by being a beacon of light you are who you are meant to be, who you have always been.
Previous post:
Christ Consciousness. 4: A time for everything
Available at: https://drjorge.world/2021/03/18/christ-consciousness-4-a-time-for-everything/
Wednesday 24th March 2021
Dr Jorge Emilio Núñez
Twitter: @DrJorge_World
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