Sat Nam (Sanskrit), a common usage among Sikhs, found in its scriptures and chants, we can render "I am the truth," "The essence within me is truth," or "I AM is the Truth."
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A clergyperson from a nearby church visited the Sage, complaining of how exhausted he was from others' expectations of him. "Is it possible," asked the Sage, "that you're exhausted not by others' expectations of you but your not allowing yourself to be you regardless of what they expect?"
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Meetings with an Anonymous Sage."
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We need less posturing and more genuine charisma. Charisma was originally a religious term, meaning "of the spirit," or "inspired." It's about letting God's light shine through us. It's about a sparkle in people that money can't buy. It's an invisible energy with visible effects. To let go, to just love, is not to fade into the wallpaper. Quite the contrary, it's when we truly become bright. We're letting our own light shine.
*Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love.
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Brian K. Wilcox - Letter to a Friend, Dec. 28, 2005
It is exceptionalness in a person that attracts some and detracts others, it seems. We all have an exceptional Essence, and the closer we are to God, the more open to Life, the more intimate with our daily Experience, the more in the Moment, the more truly Hopeful—not wishful—, and the less attached to material things ... the more that Essence shines through: we feel it in ourselves, we see it in other persons who shine with that Essence. Other persons sense it: some run to it, some run from it, some deny it, some are befuddled by it . . . Ultimately, is it not true that one must be true to himself or herself, or one is neither true to God nor to any other, either? The world, family, friends, companions, . . . need each other's exceptionalness to be whole, don't you think? … That is the Christ I can relate to, a Christ who says, "I understand, I've been there; it's safe to be fully open to me and know nothing you do or say can ever detract from my love of you as you."
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We can practice shining, meaning to let our true, radiant essence touch the lives of others. This light shines itself. The light blesses others by our getting out of its way, trusting the depth within us - subtle, timeless, all-inclusive, and, yes, beautiful. Then, we help others not by focusing on meeting expectations outside us but by letting Love within us love others through us.
What are ways in which you can consciously practice letting your light shine? What does letting your light shine mean to you?
*Use of photography is allowed accompanied by credit given to Brian K. Wilcox and notation of title and place of the photograph.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
