Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die."

The story is told of a king who invited his subjects to a banquet.  He told each to bring a flask of wine and informed them that the wine would be poured into a large vat.  Each person mused, "What will my small flask of wine mean?  I will bring a flask of water and no-one will know the difference."  Sometimes you and I weasel out of sharing our true gifts.  We bring water rather than wine.  We downplay our talents when the occasion beckons us to reveal them, to share them.  For life's celebration to overflow with meaning and nourishment, every one of us must do our part.  Remember, use the talent you possess for the woods be very silent if no birds sang except the best.

Prayer: God of love, in every age you have picked out people to spread the good news, to gossip the gospel, to be your light in the darkness.  Give to each person reading and listening to this message deep joy and enthusiasm and a passion to make a difference.  In intercession, we remember the men and women serving our country at home and abroad.  We pray for peace in the Middle East.  Bring healing to those who are ill, depressed and lonely.  Transform our despair, our negativity, into hope and joy.  Through Jesus Christ who makes all the difference.  Amen.