The Most Inspirational Pictures of 2010

Beliefnet looks back on the year in pictures and selects the most inspiring images of 2010.

By Evan Derrick

2010 was a year filled with inspirational moments. From the rescue of the Chilean miners to heartwarming triumphs at the Vancouver Winter Olympics to budding actresses meeting their heroes for the first time, there were uplifting snapshots from every facet of life. We scoured the internet, newspapers, and magazines for the most powerful and moving photographs. The following gallery is presented in no particular order, but will give you a glimpse into the most inspiring moments that 2010 had to offer.

Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Wonder Capes Help Hospitalized Children Soar

Wonder Capes came about when a little girl, hospitalized for a virus, asked if she could run down the hospital hallways wearing her homemade super hero cape. Before long, the cape was being shared with other children, many of which were seriously ill. Says Wonder Capes' founder, "Tears came to parents’ eyes, as they could not remember their child giggling or having fun. No one cared that another child might have lacked hair, had a mask, or an IV pole – they were too busy having fun, pretending to act out one scenario after another."

Here, four little superheroes try their Wonder Capes on for size outside of the Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To learn more, visit www.wondercapes.com.

Photo courtesy Wonder Capes

Father's Day Homerun

The Toronto Blue Jays' John McDonald began the June 19th game against the San Francisco Giants overcome with grief. His father had passed away four days previous and he had just finished burying him the day before. But rather than sitting the game out, he chose to play in honor of his father, especially since Father's Day was coming up. "Hit your next home run for me," his ailing father had told him from his hospital bed.

And in the ninth inning he did just that. As he finished circling the bases, he pointed to the sky in memory of his dad. When he reached the dugout, his teammates surrounded him, overcome with emotion. McDonald, for his part, credits the divine for the homer. "I don't hit home runs on breaking balls," he said. "Somebody was helping get that ball out of the ballpark."

Photo by Abelimages / Getty Images