Thought this worth sharing

I thought the quote below could apply to a few of us. Is it natural to draw attention to what you think, who you are, what you believe; or is it easier to sit quietly in the corner? I know that for me I was a corner-sitter for many years. The guy who moved the chairs back after a meeting, the bod who would help with the washing up. The person who said, and probably therefore, thought nothing. Is there a sense that we need permission to speak? Maybe since we were children, we've been keeping quiet "while there are adults around" - "being seen and not heard'? What benefit was there to anyone as a result? Well, over the years there were a lot of chairs stacked and a line of dishes that could reach from here to the moon. But as for defining me as a human being, and a child of God...?

And now the quote...

“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 most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' 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 people won't feel insecure around you. 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 all of us. And when 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.”

Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

I've heard it said that the purpose of religion is to control the masses. Actually I'd say that the opposite is true. Certainly what underlies Christianity is love which leads to freedom. As Christians we're free, we're not slaves. We're therefore called to explore the many freedoms available to us. Freedom to serve for example. 

Are you frightened, still?