Megan's prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

During senior year of high school, I spent every study hall in the campus ministry office. They had wonderfully comfortable chairs and blankets in case I wanted to fall asleep. Most days I would just hang out, talk with my friend, listen to music, and act like we were doing homework. No one ever bothered us or came to check on us. It was fabulous.

I remember one day that was a little different. As we were minding our own business, Fr. Gahan sat down just to check to see how we were doing. I had known him for years through my home parish, but had never really sat down and talked with him.

That day, he was a man of few words. He had stopped to tell us "thank-you" for being leaders for our school. He then got more personal, and thanked us each individually for a specific thing we brought into the world.

He told my friend that she had a beautiful singing voice. She had recently sung at an all-school mass and surprised everyone because not many people knew that behind her shyness she had a powerful voice.

He then told me that every time he sees me I brighten his day just because I smile at him. Something that I never really thought consciously about doing was brightening his day. From that point on, I couldn't help but smile every time I saw him in the hall. In reality, I tend to smile at most everyone I pass.

Thank you, God, for allowing me to spread your love, to brighten people's day, through something as simple as a passing smile.