What would shine look like if you could capture it in a picture?

This picture, that I recently took at a local park, comes pretty close to describing what shine might look like for me. 

A simple but vibrant tree confidently sitting against the beautiful backdrop of other trees.

No one walking through this park would dispute that the lush green trees are worth noticing.  Even if the pink blooms were not there, you would still wander the park feeling lucky to be surrounded by such beauty.  The green trees are in their own right beautiful.

But the vibrancy of the pink Crepe Myrtle makes the greens of the other trees look even greener.  The Crepe Myrtle also makes the sky look more blue, and the otherwise non-descript soccer net, picnic table, and water fountain even more noticeable.

Trees that shine - like people who shine - make everything around them more spectacular.  A teacher who shines taps into the interest and curiosity of his students until they are as excited about learning as the tree is pink.  A coach who shines draws out potential in her players until their performance is as brilliant as the Crepe Myrtle.  A conductor who shines showcases the distinct, sounds of each instrument and then pulls them together in such a way that the music is as beautiful as the picture.

Shining amplifies the best of that which already exists.

The picture represents shine because it illustrates what one person (tree) does to an entire canvas when she simply decides to stand out.

Who is the Crepe Myrtle in your life?  What does she do?  And, most importantly, have you nominated her yet for the Yellow Envelope Project?

Shining off until tomorrow...