About the Author

Lou Austin is an elusive, little-known inspirational writer whose short, memorable meditations, including the quoted line, have circulated widely on greeting cards, church bulletins, and in self-help anthologies. No reliable public records establish exact life dates or a fuller biography, so Austin remains largely anonymous beyond these popular snippets. Austin’s major “accomplishment” is the handful of uplifting aphorisms that have comforted and motivated readers for decades. The sentiment of the quote fits the modern spiritual and self-help emphasis on individual purpose and community service, which explains why it became a staple in churches, recovery groups, and inspirational newsletters.