Sunday, February 22, 2009

Why do we hide the glow? What's the deal with that?


Exodus 34:29-35  
What's the deal with Moses covering up his face with a veil every time he came from talking with God and then talking to the people? 

"...whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord."

I totally do not get this. What an amazing feeling to be covered by and with God's light: Glowing. Radiating. Ignited. Ablaze. Burning. 

Embarrassed? Concerned others would feel left out? Less valuable than him? Too much pressure? Unworthy of carrying the light? Truth is...I do this, too. What's with that? God gives us His gift of inspiration, revelation, enlightenment. His and your moment shared in Parenthesis. And then instead of going out and glowing all over everyone, absolutely showering them with the dripping joy, radiant colors and explosive celebration that praises and worships Him for His  amazing gift and grace, we look around to make sure no one else is listening or watching. Because they might think you are a weirdo. Crazy. Insane. Drunk. Out of it. Well, seems to me that pretty well describes a bunch of guys called Disciples. So, here goes: I am weird, crazy, insane, drunk, out of it, sold out, all in, all out, out of my mind about any fragment of a moment in the light. Maybe the real pronunciation for ENLIGHTENMENT should be IN LIGHT IS WHAT I MEANT. 

Reminds me of one on my favorite quotes ever about "letting your 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 and fabulous?'  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are 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 light shine, we give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Nelson Mandela


Your light is meant to shine. It's a part of the invitation to switch your point of view: Click here. 

Emphasized.
(b)

1 comment:

  1. Love the Nelson Mandela Quote. I've been to Robben Island and stood outside his prison cell and courtyard of 20 years. "The color of Freedom" is a great movie about James Gregory, his white prison guard who changed from his militant racism to be freed and liberated from it all through his ironic but powerful relationship with Mandela

    -John Foley

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