Daring the light

Once upon a time, there was a young girl with curly blond hair and bright blue eyes. Gentle and kind, she carried within her an endless sense of wonder, always captivated by the mysteries of the world around her. She found joy in the simplest things, her heart unburdened by the weight of existence. But beneath her soft exterior, she harbored a deep longing—to leave her mark, to embrace the vastness of life. Yet, as much as the world fascinated her, it also felt immense, intimidating, and, at times, unwelcoming.

Her illusion of a perfect world shattered early on. And yet, within her, a delicate but persistent spark refused to be extinguished. Flickering and full of hope, it wrapped her in a quiet sense of safety, like a whisper of warmth in the cold. It inspired her, awakening the fireflies in her heart, those restless dreams yearning to take flight.

But fear held her back. She worried that being fully herself, shining in her uniqueness, might disturb the fragile peace or make her stand out in ways that felt unsafe. What if she overshadowed others? What if her light was too much? And so, she chose to retreat, shrinking herself further and further, until she barely took up space at all.

Yet, the more she dimmed her light, the more loneliness crept in. Self-doubt took root, reinforcing the belief that she was not enough. Or worse, too much. A quiet ache settled in her soul, an emptiness she couldn’t fill. Still, beneath it all, something stronger than fear stirred within her. A voice, gentle yet unwavering, calling her back to herself. Reminding her of who she truly was. Reminding her that she was created with purpose, and that hiding was never part of the plan. She was of great value and God was calling it forth.

At first, she resisted. The world beyond the shadows was uncertain, unpredictable. But the call grew louder. One day, it became undeniable. And so, with trembling hands and a heart pounding in her chest, she dared to take the first step. Not perfectly, not fearlessly, but courageously.

She began to write. At first, hesitant scribbles. Then, words strung together life fragile bridges, connecting her heart to the world. Writing became her way of stepping into the light, one line, one story, one truth at a time. She realized it had never been about perfection or talent. It was about showing up. About daring.

Daring to trust the desire placed inside her to write.

Daring to take up space.

Daring to believe she was meant for more than silence.

And as she did, something incredible happened. Each story, each poem, each prose, each whispered truth planted a seed in a garden she never knew existed. Authenticity became her compass. No longer trapped in the endless pursuit of enough, she embraced the fullness of who she was meant to be. And in doing so, she discovered a deeper truth: if she remained hidden, she would never truly embrace life and all its abundance.

And so would you.

Because the silence of untold stories, of unspoken dreams, only grows louder with time. But it doesn’t have to.

What if you took one step? Just one?

What if you dared to trust what’s already inside you?

What if you chose to live freely, without apology?

The world is waiting. God is calling. Listen closely, in the stillness, in the quiet moments. You will hear Him.

Will you answer?

A final thought...

These words have been an anchor for me, reminding me that stepping into our fullness is not just a choice but a responsibility.

"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."

Nelson Mandela

What step will you take today to let your light shine?