Light

Don't you just love watching people do what they love to do?  Their energy and passion is absolutely contagious.  And it doesn't even seem to matter what it is they're doing, when someone loves a thing, and you are in their presence while they are doing it, you can literally FEEL their enthusiasm, and all of a sudden you become enthusiastic with them.

Last night, at a Relief Society Enrichment activity (that's the monthly get together that we have as a women's organization of the church) I watched a woman teach a lesson about personal financial management.  (yawn...)  I did not expect to even really listen, much less find the subject enjoyable.  But, the teacher clearly loved what she was talking about, and her energy instantly drew everyone in.  She was knowledgeable and funny, and her ideas were relevant and accessible, and by the end of 30 minutes or so, I was thinking about personal financial management in a whole new way.  I told her afterward that I was shocked at how she had been able to change my mind, and looked forward to implementing her ideas at home.  (Beware family...)

Last Thursday, DMCO (Dallas Millennial Choirs and Orchestra) met for our first rehearsal since April!  Thats way too long a break, in my opinion.  And even though I was there for 5 hours, and even though I was exhausted and my throat hurt and my abs hurt and my legs hurt from all that singing (when you do it the right way, it is a dang workout, I tell you) I didn't even care.  I could have stayed for another two hours!  There is energy in that space with those people who all love to sing, and especially with those directors who have a passion for bringing about an enormous sound with a huge message.  I cannot help but be motivated and inspired in their presence.  

"We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.  And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." - Marianne Williamson 

That's a small part of one of my favorite quotes ever.  And as I have gone through this year thinking about LIGHT...being light, receiving light, standing in places where there is light...this quote comes to mind often.  There is LIGHT everywhere, and people radiate it in so many different ways.  It doesn't matter if you are speaking in front of throngs of people, or singing in the privacy of your own little garage band, when you do what you love, you have no choice but to emit LIGHT.  

I want to do that.