The purpose of influence is to "speak up for those who have no influence." (Pr.31:8) It's not about you.

In Psalm 72, Solomon prays for power and fame but he says the purpose of influence is to speak up for others and one is the immigrant. He doesn't delineate between legal and illegal.

We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.

[And lately, Thomas has been re-reading a book he's found particularly meaningful:] The Purpose Driven Life ... If you only talk about the past, there is no future.

Being successful and fulfilling your lifes purpose are not at all the same thing; You can reach all your personal goals, become a raving success by the worlds standard and still miss your purpose in this life.

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.