Lying on my back on the beach and observing the slow, graceful dance of the constellations, I suddenly felt small and a bit melancholy. Our lives are so fleeting, just a brief flicker in the vast universe. What will become of us when our light is extinguished? Then, I noticed a bright star twinkle, seemingly winking at me with a secret to share. It was the North Star.

My thoughts wandered back to physics class and the concept of light-years—the distance light travels in one year. Polaris, the North Star, is 323 light-years away from Earth, meaning that the light we see now left that star 323 years ago. We’re not observing the star in its current state, but rather a beam of light that has been traveling through space since the early 1700s. The North Star has always been a steadfast compass, guiding ships across expanses of oceans, helping explorers navigate uncharted territories, and leading lost travelers back home. It has illuminated our world for centuries, eons and longer.

Like the stars, we are all created with an eternal resonance that lights up the darkness. The Great Creator sang us into being to shine with intention now and into the future, within the vast, unfolding dance of the universe. Our time on this earth may be brief, just the blink of one star, but the trajectory of our light is infinite. The Great Creator has given each of us a choice: we must decide what kind of light we are casting now, because it will travel into the future.

Let’s look at the difference between living in the moment and living with intention. Living in the moment is the practice of being aware of what is around us and within us.

Living intentionally is different. It consists of aligning and directing our lives with purpose. It involves consciously setting a path and resisting the world’s pull to steer our course. Intention shapes our daily focus, ensuring that our light and energy today reflect the values we want to grow and glow. To shine with intention is to embrace our light fully and actively choose what it will illuminate.

Each of us is given a light within, a specific frequency patterned by the Great Creator. One might possess a sparkling, vibrant illumination that immediately lights up a room with bubbling laughter and love. Another has a constant, unswerving beam manifested by patience, an open ear, or a hand extended in the dark. Somebody else has a soft glow that protects and comforts. All our frequencies can fracture the darkness and are essential in His infinite dance.

When we choose to shine with intention, we no longer scatter our energy blindly into the dark. Our lives become a purposeful beacon, casting a beam across the world to uncover and illuminate its divine architecture and its human failings.

Let’s let our light illuminate the true essence of the people around us. In a world fractured by divisions and the toxic sting of casual judgment, our light can become a ray of truth. When we refuse to let a judgment, stereotype or an uncomfortable comment about race or religion slide or when we calmly interrupt a moment of gossip or prejudice, we strip away the darkness. Our light reveals that every human soul we encounter is an indestructible piece of eternity, reminding us that no human being is greater or lesser than another.

Let’s shine intentionally to highlight our connection with the natural world, showing that all creation is one. The Great Creator didn’t create a hierarchy of existence. Every creature, be it two legged humans, furry, feathered, above water, or underwater, along with mighty mountains, bubbling streams, shy buttercups, and shining grains of sand—each has a unique place. We can demonstrate this sacred respect by treating animals and the planet not as commodities to exploit but as holy trusts and companions. We can shine our light and express our beliefs through simple actions such as reducing consumption, embracing simplicity, fixing rather than discarding, and protecting animals from cruelty. Through these deliberate choices, our daily actions shift from destructive footprints to a harmonious effort that preserves a vibrant, thriving home for future generations.

Let’s shine a light on the exhausting societal obsession with wealth and material success by using our lives to highlight the beautiful and rare idea of “enough.” Our intention can serve as an act of defiance against the never-ending push to accumulate, representing a conscious decision to stop directing our existence toward the pursuit of status, riches, and approval. By intentionally stepping away from the treadmill of constant consumerism, by purchasing second-hand and only when we truly need it, we can let our light reveal the emptiness of a life judged solely by numbers, and show the world that a fulfilled soul is far more valuable than a house full of things or a hefty bank balance.

Let’s allow our light to shine effortlessly through compassionate words, acceptance of others, and a dedication to forgiveness and mercy. Let’s be fully present to laugh and celebrate with joy, spreading brightness that eases the heavy burdens of a tired world. Let’s allow our light to be gentle so we can openly weep with those traversing the valleys of grief. Finally, let our light be humble, shining on our infinite blessings. 

Starting today, let us live intentionally, choosing every single day to anchor our temporary steps to the timeless rhythms of the Creator. Light-years after we have shed our earthly bonds, our light will continue to shine across the universe. Just like the North Star, it will glow through time and space, guiding a traveler who hasn’t even been born yet, on a shore we have never visited, under stars we have never seen. Let’s shine intentionally today, and our light will illuminate tomorrow.