Spiritual Purpose

Professor Nova told Brighton and all the star students at the North Star Academy that their life's purpose was to learn how to shine their brightest and then share their light with others. He told them that when they learned to shine their brightest light so that one special child or animal on earth could see them and "wish upon a star", they would be given magical powers of light, energy and stardust to grant their wish.

"'Your job as a young star, ' Professor Nova went on. 'is to learn how to shine your very brightest light, and then share your light with others. Soon you'll be able to make wishes come true for anyone who asks!'"

It was through sharing his light and spiritual purpose with others, that "Brighton" finally realized his biggest dream. His journey had taken him to a place far greater than anything he had imagined for himself, and the Light of All Lights had entrusted in him the greatest purpose for which he could be given. It is this amazing moment at the end of the story that the author, Diane Carty Speicher, hopes resonates with children and their parents. When children realize that they are supposed to discuss their light, values, and purpose with others, we achieve great things as parents, as families, and as a society. As Jack Canfield, the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says in his interview about Brighton, " .what happens in the book is that there are all these lessons that Brighton learns about how to stay true to himself and fully express himself. I believe if we all can learn to do that, then the world works." We will achieve a generation of children centered with spiritual purpose and guided to share their light with the whole world. We will have achieved a generation of leaders that will change the world for the better.

Guides To Development of Spiritual Purpose

Not all of us have Professor Nova as a teacher or mentors like Virgo, The Big Dipper, The Little Dipper, or Sirius. We should, but we don't. Fortunately, there are enlightened beings that have shared their insights and their light on how to develop a spiritual purpose in children. As is pointed out in the sections on building self esteem and defeating bullies, the foundation of developing spiritual purpose starts with an environment of love, encouragement, communication and support.

We have compiled our top 10 list of Diane's Top Tens, which we feel are excellent guides to developing spiritual purpose in children and ourselves.

1. Rick Warren wrote "A Purpose Driven Life". He has led the way in shining a light on the path to spiritual purpose.
2. The Christmas Box
3. The Littlest Donkey
4. The Polar Express
5. Deepak Chopra, M.D. "The Seven Spritual Laws for Parents Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment"

We will add additional titles soon.