Growing up in West Michigan, I attended a small congregation that is part of the Reformed Church of America. I was blessed to have two incredible pastors—a married couple who put their souls into the church and each of its members. (34 years later, one of them still serves as pastor there.)
Some of my favorite memories of childhood involve singing along as the pastors played the guitar and led us in simple songs of love and acceptance. The singalongs included everything from campfire-inspired kids’ songs to gospel hymns. One of my favorites as a child was “This Little Light of Mine.” (Check out a beautiful rendition from a gospel choir at https://youtu.be/Xx3nTsFJEQE.)
Years before I learned this song, it became a battle cry of the civil rights movement, a song that helped marchers fortify themselves to get through dangerous protests. As one of the Freedom Singers, a renowned quartet that raised money for student activists during the civil rights movement, said, you can’t just sing “This Little Light of Mine.” You have to shout it.
“This Little Light of Mine” reminds us that we all have a divine light within us, and it is our responsibility—not just our right—to let it shine. We’re encouraged to shine our light-self all around our communities, to not hide it or let it be blown out.
A quote from Marianne Williamson (often misattributed to Nelson Mandela) again reminds us that it is not just our right but our duty to let that light shine:
“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, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the World. There is 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 is not just in some of us, it is 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 fears, our presence automatically liberates others.”
—Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”
Did you catch that? “As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” So shining our inner light is a gift we can give to ourselves and to others to encourage them to shine on.
I’ve been reminded of this interior light many times recently, most notably on inauguration day when poet Amanda Gorman said, “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Is your inner divine light shining?
Are you feeling inhibited from being your brightest, shiniest self?
What can you do to release those inhibitions and let your light shine?
What can you do to help others do the same?
—Andi Lewis, Prairiewoods marketing coordinator
sunrise photo at Prairiewoods by Joni Reed Cooley