Shine

I love this Anna Nalick song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgiZz-aqheU&FORM=VIRE6

These are dark days; we have a difficult economy, and so many are out of jobs. But even those people can count themselves fortunate not to be in the situation that the people in Haiti are in right now. The Haitian people have even lost those who were there to help them. I know of two United Methodist Global Ministries administrators who have died in the earthquake's wreckage after a meeting about how to get more health care into Haiti, and I know for sure there are many others who were there from various relief aid organizations trying to help the people of Haiti, who are also dead and gone missing. Many of the people who would normally be "first responders" to the crisis are dead or injured themselves.

It is very easy to feel frustrated, despondent, and helpless in times like these.

I will not ask that more relief aid be given; I'm sure you all are doing that already, and many are on-going givers of funds. It's all over the news--you know where you can give aid, so it's not necessary to post it here.

What I want you to do now is to take an inventory of your gifts and your talents. Understand what they are, and how you can use them. Make a list. Don't be afraid of making a long list (the longer, the better), and if you have trouble, ask a good friend or family member. Include everything from, "I'm good at cleaning toilets" to "I care a lot about people," to "I'm a whiz at math." Do not use the words "don't, can't, won't, or not." Phrase everything in positive language.

Got your list? Good. Now, look at it and pretend you're looking at someone else's list. Or, if you're doing this list-making with a friend, trade lists.

Take out another piece of paper and make another list: Brainstorm ways in which that person (you) can use those gifts and talents to improve his or her own life and others' lives on the job, in school, in your house of worship, in your community, and beyond. Write them down. Again, phrase it in positive language.

Now, look down this second list, and think about each thing you've written. Which one gets you the most excited? Which one makes you feel happy? Are there more than one? Are there a lot? If so, pick three.

Write down those three things (or one or two things) or in a small notebook that is easily carried in a purse or a pocket. Then, go out and do those things or that one thing. When you are done, go back to the list, and do the next one. If you find more things that you can get excited about, add it to the list. It doesn't matter if you have one or more things on the list, it doesn't matter if what you do seems very small or very large, as long as you do them and add to the list when you're done. No item is insignificant, no item is too large. All that matters is that you do it, and are happy to do it.

This is how each one of us shines: by recognizing our gifts and talents, however large or small, and using them with joy, wherever we happen to be.

If we do this, how can the world not grow lighter with the joy we bring to the work we do?