There are afternoons that feel touched by grace, when the simplest things align to reveal a hidden pattern of abundance. I had one such afternoon recently, standing in the heart of my home — the kitchen — and feeling utterly enveloped in the warmth of community.

It wasn't the bounty of a grocery run I was admiring, but a harvest of generosity, freely given. Spread across my counter were gifts from neighbors, each a separate act of kindness, yet together forming a chorus of overabundance: a large wooden bowl overflowing with three dozen farm-fresh, richly colored eggs; a mound of sunny yellow summer squash and deep green zucchini; and a basket brimming with crisp red apples picked just days before from an upstate New York orchard.

These weren't transactions, but offerings made without expectation — a garden yielding too much, a flock too happy, a trip providing a haul too large. This impromptu bounty struck me as a beautiful metaphor for "the light we share."

Generosity is the quiet, sustaining human goodness that cuts through the noise. It’s not a grand gesture, but the recognition that we all hold an abundance: of time, of talent, of faith, or, literally, of zucchini. I gave the neighbors who had given us the squash two fresh baked loaves of the zucchini bread. A few days later, I received a Facebook message: “Your zucchini walnut bread is awesome. We are savoring every bite. Thank you so much.” It was the least I could do after they had blessed us so generously. 

Every great meal is an act of service, transforming raw ingredients like the gifted squash into a shared loaf of zucchini bread — a physical expression of care and shared creativity. Most moving is the simple, unassuming generosity of the everyday: "We have too many, please take some." This is the quiet faith that what is shared multiplies.

We all possess something in abundance that someone else needs — whether it's the spiritual strength to offer faith, the creative ability to lift a spirit, or the simple act of sharing an extra hour or a basket of apples.

The light we share is not a single spotlight; it is the soft, diffuse glow of dozens of small acts converging. Look around today. What is your current abundance? Share it freely, and watch the effortless light you cast on the world.

Some Kinda Good Walnut Zucchini Bread Mini Loaves

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• 3 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 2 eggs

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 cup vegetable oil 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 packed cups (about 1 pound) coarsely grated zucchini 

• 1 cup walnuts, toasted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease 4 mini loaf pans. 

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

3. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, just enough to mix. Stir in sugar, oil and vanilla.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

5. Stir in the shredded zucchini and walnuts.

6. Place equal amounts in the prepared pans. Smooth the tops and bake for 35 minutes. A cake tester should come out clean.

7. Remove from the oven and let cool.