The Sun, who stands resolutely in the sky, is a powerful protector and provider of life. Would you believe that once upon a time, she was not so sure of herself, and much like you and I, felt the ache of self-doubt and loneliness?
She was mighty – with the strength and potential to give life to all the Earth – and in her greatness, she was also misunderstood and feared by many. No one could reach her, so high in the sky, nor could they bear to look up at her, as her light often burned their eyes. She too, was afraid of people getting too close to her, for fear that she would burn them, hurt them, and break their trust in her.
And so, she sat far away in the dark, distanced and utterly alone, watching the world go by without her, wishing that she could be a part of it; wishing that she could be accepted.
One day she decided that she would dim her light so that she might be closer to the Earth, so that people would be able to look at her, see her, acknowledge her, and admire her for all that she had done for them. She so desperately wanted their acceptance, and so, the Sun gave up her light for the people of Earth.
Not long after, the Earth began to die. Without her light, life quickly began to shrivel and waste away into darkness. Plants turned brown and curled into themselves, dying. Animals and people starved, and the world fell into great chaos. The people of Earth wept, their hearts full of sorrow for Daylight, which had not come. Their cries of anguish echoed through the clouds. They needed her; they needed her light. The Sun did not understand – she had done this for them! The Sun howled in anger and confusion. She had given up her light to please others, and it had only created desolation and destruction. She felt cold and depressed.
She decided at that moment that she would shine once more. She picked herself up and rose to the sky, allowing herself to radiate as she had never done before, and soon, with the gift of her light, the Earth was reborn. She watched from above, as saplings pushed their heads through the soil to smile up at her, and as animals and people alike, emerged once more to soak in her warmth. It was then that she understood that she was not alone and that she never had been. She did not need to dim herself to become a part of the world, she was already a part of it – it was her light that gave it life. It is her that allows the seedlings, the trees and even the vast forests to breathe. She realized that if she allowed herself to accept and love her shine, she would never be alone. She did not need others’ recognition of her power, only her own.
The Sun soon came to realize that she was also a part of a bigger universe; that she was but one Sun of many in the galaxies. She knew that somewhere, like the other Suns, she was a star in the night sky. She was a twinkling star, one among many, whose light was wished upon on lonely nights. In all of this she was comforted when she too felt lonely, knowing that if she just continued to shine in all her power, truth and glory, she could, and would make a difference. After that, the sun has never stopped shining. Even on days when she is tired and hides behind the clouds, she is still there, shining, and she will never stop
“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 does not serve the world. There is 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 other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson
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