Voice

 

Isn’t it strange how our minds remember seemingly random things?

 

I vividly remember standing in the school gym last October, 

DJing the Fall Festival, 

Starting to feel a sore throat coming on. 

That sore throat turned into my typical cold, 

Settling in on my vocal cords, 

Leaving me without full voice for a month. 

I remember how frustrated I was not being able to talk and sing for so long, 

And I remember wondering if my voice would ever return.  

 

It did.

And it stayed with me until after my program on Friday night. 

 

I felt this year’s cold coming on last Wednesday, 

Tried to ignore it, 

Pushed through on Thursday and Friday, 

Opened my mouth to speak on Saturday morning, 

And bam! Nothing came out. 

I am voiceless again. 

 

Being voiceless is hard. 

Not only does my job depend on my voice, 

But I also like to talk. 

Being voiceless makes me think twice about what I really want to say,

Which can be good,

But it also makes me feel a bit powerless,

Which is not so good. 

 

As we all know,

This week is election week. 

To be honest, 

Election week leaves me feeling a bit powerless as well.

It’s all so big. 

And I’m so small. 

Yet I at least have the opportunity to vote and

Use what little voice I have, 

Literally and figuratively, 

To speak the truth of who I believe can best guide our local, state, and national governments. 

 

May we be a people who appreciate our voices, 

Who celebrate the fact that we have them, 

And who use them wisely to build community through love, hope, and encouragement. 

May we be a people who engage not in culture wars but in culture care, 

Especially this week and in the weeks to come. 

 

Amen.