Go make a difference

In Good Faith Column

By MaryAnne Brown
Journal & Press

Not long ago, I was invited to tea with the wisest couple in the world. Their names are Otto and Olivia, and they have lived a life full of love, lessons, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting. The invitation came in a soft blue envelope, hand-addressed: “Come for tea. We have something to share.” Their little house sits at the edge of a meadow, with ivy climbing the front porch and wind chimes whispering old songs to the trees.

When I arrived, Olivia opened the door with a smile that felt like sunrise. “We’ve been expecting you,” she said, as if we were already old friends. Otto waved from his chair by the fireplace. “Sit, sit,” he chuckled. “We’ve got cookies, wisdom, and time.” As we visited, I told them I was preparing a message for graduates — bright souls finishing high school, trade school, or college. I asked what message they would offer to young people stepping out into a noisy, complicated world.

Otto leaned forward, eyes twinkling behind round glasses. “Tell them to take care of their insides,” he said. Olivia nodded and poured the tea. “Their spiritual selves,” she added. “The part of them that isn’t in any resume or transcript — the part that knows what is right, loves what is good, and holds fast when life gets bumpy.”

“They will be told to hustle, to build, to impress,” Otto said, “but not many will remind them to listen to that quiet voice inside — the one that says: Be kind. Be brave. Do what is right even if it is hard.” Olivia passed me a cookie (oatmeal with chocolate chips, warm and perfect). “Tell them to notice small things,” she said. “How a kind word can change someone’s day. How being honest when no one is watching builds something strong inside. That’s how character is formed — not in big moments, but in quiet ones.”

Otto pulled a little notebook from the table drawer. “We keep a collection of quotes,” he grinned. “Want to hear a few?” Of course I did. He read:

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” – Albert Einstein

“What lies within us is greater than what lies ahead of us.’”– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Then Olivia added softly: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

She looked out the window at the garden, where a patch of wild daisies swayed in the breeze. “The world is aching for goodness,” she said. “For people who care, who serve, who give without needing a spotlight. Tell your graduates that their virtue — honesty, humility, compassion — is portable. They can take it into a workshop or a boardroom, into a farm or a classroom.”

Otto nodded. “And tell them not to be afraid of failure. It’s how you learn. But be afraid of losing your soul in the scramble for success. Many have come to realize that there is a difference between making a living and making a life.”

We sat quietly for a moment, soaking it all in as the hush of wisdom landed gently on the heart. Then Olivia reached over to a shelf and handed me a card. Four simple words, written in beautiful handwriting: “Go make a difference.”

That is the title of a favorite hymn—simple, bold, and just right. And its message is exactly what I want to pass on to you, dear graduates: an invitation to step into the world with heart, courage, and purpose.

So, whether you are heading into nursing, welding, teaching, design, hospitality, farming, or film, sales or journalism, remember: the world needs not only your talent, but your goodness. Don’t rush past your soul. Make time for stillness. Feed your spirit. Be a person of depth. The world has enough noise and show. It needs people like you—people of sincerity, service, and strength.

Otto and Olivia believe in you. Your family believes in you. Your community is cheering you on. And so are all of us who see the light, hope and promise you carry.

No matter how many years have passed since the rest of us graduated, now is always the right time to lean into the wisdom of Otto, Olivia, and those who came before us. It always helps to take a moment, check in with our spirit, and get back to what really matters.

May we go forward with courage in our heart and compassion in our hands. May wisdom guide our choices; may hope light our way. May we find joy in the journey, meaning in the work, and peace in our soul. And may we always know that we are never alone. We are loved, supported, and called to –

Go make a difference!

MaryAnne Brown, RN, BSN, MA is a music minister at St. Joseph’s Church and has a special interest in spirituality and health. She serves on the Retreat Team at Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna and provides grantwriting services.