Monday, January 14, 2008

How do you serve the world?

CSUS piano professor, Richard Cionco, once handed out a poem to all of his students in repertoire class. I would like to share it with you.


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 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’s 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’s not just in some of us;

it’s in everyone.


And as we let our own light shine

we unconsciously giveother people the right to do the same.


As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson

13 comments:

James Wilder said...

Good stuff right there. Thanks for that sort of liberation on a Monday!

Jana Allard said...

Ooooo, good poem. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Von de Leigh, that is powerful writing. Thank you for bringing that to us who read here.

Be blessed today.

shirley buxton

Music Eloquence said...

James, Sis.Allard, Sis.Buxton, you're welcome. This poem came at a time for me at CSUS when I was so intimidated to play in front of my colleagues and professors. I knew I could do well in the practice room and for Janell (we'd go hide out in a room and listen to and critique each other), but playing in front of a group I seemed to freeze up. In my mind, everyone played better, flowed, and felt down to the core what they were playing, and I would look at them and think.. I'm not that way. It was awful to feel so inferior. WHen Richard gave this to us, it really liberated me and made me remember my own teachings growing up too... story about the talents, "to whom much is given, much is required," "I can do all things through Christ," on and on the verses kept coming to me. God used this to give me a reality check of who I really am.

East Coast-er Momma said...

I just love hearing from Noah...heh. And I recognize that outfit...! I bet he's almost out of it. I miss you tonz. I might be calling you soon with some news...

Music Eloquence said...

Meesh, isn't he cute? He still fits in those jammies quite well.

OK. The suspense is killing me!! =)

Vonney said...

Beautiful words..Like Bishop always says, 'In everyone lies the seeds of greatness...' Thanks for sharing!

Janell said...

WOW! That's so cool! I'm surprised Richard handed out a poem that advocates God, since he's supposedly antagonist. (I think that's the right word) Oh wait...I mean "agnostic" HAHAHAHAA!
I must have been absent that day, because I never heard of that poem. Or maybe that was the semester before I got there...anyway, that is a very lovely poem!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

Music Eloquence said...

Vonney, I totally believe that. He could have written the book "The 8th Habit."

Janelly, I was shocked after he read it to us in repertoire class. Nevertheless, it changed me. I think he might've known I needed it. Yes, isn't it a beautiful poem?

~Kimberly~ said...

That is definitely worth saving and re-reading. What awesome words to penetrate the heart.
Blessings Abundantly to you!

Music Eloquence said...

Sis.Kimmie, Thank you and thanks for stopping by to comment. Blessings to you =)

Anonymous said...

Sis. Von de Leigh, I have been to your site quite often but for some reason missed this poem! But as I read it today, it spoke right to me!! I suppose I needed it just for today! It is so true how we let the opinion of others keep us from what God is trying to do through us! Thanks for the reminder to be who God wants me to be! Love you, Sis. Holly
P.S. Check out this new blog. It's just up and coming but promising. I hear they got the idea from someone special! Before you know it everyone will be blogging away!
www.theunknownartis.blogspot.com

Music Eloquence said...

Sis.Holly, Isn't this fun? I will definitely check your blog out. I'm glad the poem spoke to you... it does to all of us. We are often so intimidated of being Great or Terrific, but that's when we let our Light within shine. Love you too. Von