Most of us, at some point, have a desire to make a difference in the world. We WANT our lives to matter, our words to be of use. Jan Phillips

I love the printed word and especially words written in such a powerful way that they resonate somewhere deep inside, where the Infinite resides.

Those that feel life and communicate it through photography, words, music and other forms of expression are indeed blessed. And we, the recipients and benefactors of their Divine flow are doubly blessed. I say that because the receiver, when truly open to the experience, at that point becomes one with the very essence with which it was created.

This is why great works of art literally take our breath away. We become immersed in the “soul” of the piece. Great writing does that to us also.

Where does inspiration come from? Wayne Dyer believes it flows from the Divine. He says when we are inspired we are in “spirit.”

One of my favorite writers and photographers, Jan Phillips, speaks of this in her book on photography, God Is At Eye Level. She writes, “Photography gives us a chance to say, in more than words alone, what we believe in, where we stand. It is a form of expression that reveals not only who we are, but how the world appears, through our eyes. There is some risk to this, but more importantly, there is that possibility that our revelation will touch another, heal some brokenness, lead us back to our wholeness.”

Lead us back to our wholeness… I love that phrase. It says so much in so few words.

We all have things we have brought forth, been inspired to do, that have made a difference in someone else’s life. Perhaps it was that time when you offered to help a neighbor by babysitting their kids or taking care of their pets while they escaped for a few hours or a day. You might have prepared some food and brought it over to welcome a new family into the neighborhood. Or you may have offered to give someone a ride somewhere. Maybe it was that time you saw someone who was down and offered them the warmth of your smile.

A few years ago I became a mentor to an eight-year-old boy. Once a week, I would go pick him up and we would spend a few hours together. At first, he was shy and scared. After a few times, he came running out the front door anxious for his next weekly adventure with me. We explored many things together; we went to the museum, walking in the park, cruising the internet, ate pizza and played games at Chuck E Cheese and a couple of times, we even went bowling! He expressed an interest in photography, so I bought him a little camera. That day we spent our time in a park where people were playing volleyball. I told him to see the picture he wanted in his mind and then frame it in the viewfinder and shoot. I had brought my camera along and shot along with him from the same angles he did. He couldn’t wait for next week to see his pictures. I loved the look on his face when he saw the results and realized that he did, indeed, have an eye for photography. In those six months we were together, Antonio had blessed my life in more ways than he could ever have known. Even though I was assigned to mentor him, he was the gift I received.

In that short period of time, I saw the brightness of his eyes and the glow of his spirit return to him.

What is the gift you can give this season? I don’t mean the kind wrapped up in shiny paper with a big bow. I mean the kind that will truly make a difference in someone else’s life, the kind that will matter, the kind that may just change the world. Each one of us, one person at a time, can make a huge difference in our world by just being a blessing in the spot we are planted. There is someone you know that is looking for the gift you have to offer. Find them and you are doubly blessed. For,it is in giving that we receive.