Simple things can make a big difference.

I coached at Choices all weekend (in Givers 2 where participants work on creating their life purpose statement). This was a group I’d come all the way through with — from the five day Choices session and both Givers weekends. (Usually I am only in the Givers 2 room for the weekend)

In Choices, participants create a Contract Statement — that statement that reminds you of who you are in the world when you are committed to your Be. Do. Have of creating more of what you want in your life. My contract is – I am a radiant woman. It reminds me, even when the sky is gloomy or the times are dark that it is my responsibility, and my desire, to shine. To be fearless. To be committed to share love, wisdom, kindness, and my gifts to create a world of beauty all around.

Givers 1 is all about colours, and now, equipped with their Purpose, people go off into the world to do and be their best. To create more of what they want in life. To share their gifts because, giving is receiving.

Every Sunday of a Choices weekend, there is a spiritual service. As Bill Spangler, the Alberta Manager of Choices says, it’s an opportunity to stretch our spiritual muscles.

It wasn’t much of a stretch this weekend to feel the essential essence of our human spirit shining. It was a stretch to feel divine inspiration filling our hearts and minds with joy.

And all because of an 11 year old girl.

Sitting behind a grand piano on the far side of the room, I couldn’t see her. Her mother Donna, had opened the service with a hymn she sang when her daughters ‘were young’. When she was finished, she said, “My daughter Sydney likes to sing and now she’ll be singing a song she wrote herself.”

And then, a series of piano chords were struck and a beautiful voice floated on the air. It was as if an angel was singing, her pure sweet voice raining wonder upon on our heads.

We all struggled to see who it was. We shifted and moved and tried to peek behind the grand piano. And then, as if of one body, the room settled. As if of one mind, we  collectively knew what mattered most. It wasn’t about where or who the voice came from. It was about letting the voice and words and song enter our hearts to make us different. It was about sitting in appreciation and gratitude for a gift of song.

And what a song. What a voice.

When Bill stood at the front of the room after Sydney finished singing and invited her to come and stand beside him, he asked. “How old are you?” And this petite young girl with curly dark hair replied with great poise, “Eleven.”

Beside me three young men in their late teens, early twenties gasped. So did everyone else in the room.

Eleven? No way.

Wow!

I heard a young girl sing yesterday and was touched, not just by her talent, but by the beauty and wisdom of her words.

What You Believe In  (Lyrics and music by Sydney Mae Schweitzer)

Have you ever felt empty
Have you ever felt insecure
Has your heart been broken
Were you ever unsure
Have you ever been frightened
with nowhere else to go…

May I be the first to say
you are not alone….

Go on do what you believe in
your dreams are never far behind….

As I said to a young woman later in the day, when I meet young women like you and eperience the wonder I did this morning through Sydney singing, I know — the world is in good hands. You are already making a difference.

I asked Sydney’s mother if I could share the experience here this morning and she replied with grace. I am grateful. I heard an angel sing yesterday morning. My heart was softened and I was made different.

It is something we can all do to make a difference in our world. Soften our hearts, open our minds and set ourselves free to create a world of wonder, beauty and love all around.

Namaste.

This is a video recording of Sydney Mae performing the song she sang for us yesterday morning. Enjoy!