Finding Your Voice

I was reminded this week about how important a voice can be in shaping public opinion or calling us to take action. On more than one occasion I had opportunity to encourage other persons to think differently about a problem they were facing or be more accountable to themselves and others. In my role as an executive and personal coach I frequently face the challenge of finding just the right words that will prompt a client or friend to alter his or her behavior. Sometimes my voice is firm and resolute, other times I struggle to tell the truth as I see it.

There is an interesting Bible story found in the Old Testament (2 Kings 5) about Naaman, an Aram army commander who suffered from leprosy, an infectious skin disease. An Israelite servant girl (captured in one of the many Aramean insurgencies into Israel) somehow had the courage to tell her master about a prophet in Samaria who could cure him of the disease. Remarkably, Naaman took this girl’s advice and later was indeed healed of his leprosy.

We can all think of persons who “found their voice” and changed the world. Rosa Parks simply said “no” to the discriminatory practice of moving people of color to the back of the bus. Her actions helped galvanize a movement that eventually led to anti-discrimination legislation. On this date 234 years ago, a group of colonial patriots declared their independence from King George and a new nation was birthed. The ideals espoused by those early revolutionaries led to a war for freedom and the adoption of a new Constitution that remains the standard among all the world’s nations. Mother Teresa founded her Missionaries of Charity organization in 1950 and for 45 years ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in 123 countries. Her unconditional love has inspired many others to give of their lives in service.

These examples illustrate the liberating power of finding a voice, of discovering one’s passion, of following your heart. If the young slave girl had remained silent her master would never have experienced baby fresh skin and the restoration of his social status. Had Rosa Parks quietly shuffled to her usual back seat it may have been years before the civil rights movement gained public support. If our founding fathers had succumbed to their personal fears or Loyalist opinions we might still be serving the Queen of England.

I’m not always confident that my own voice matters. Sometimes I silently wait for other voices to engage in the conversation or offer the dissenting opinion. It's often easier to quell the urge, to quiet the stirrings of our convictions, to remain disengaged. But sadly this is not what the world needs right now. Where political rancor and discord abound we need voices of reason and common sense. In the face of economic challenge we need voices of innovation and confidence. As business friends and neighbors struggle with personal loss and grief we need voices of comfort and grace.

Regardless of status or station in life, the power of one voice still matters. On this day when our nation celebrates a birthday it is even more important that the voices of our citizens are heard by those who represent us in Washington and in our state and local governments. It will take more than a vote to change the direction of our country. At the heart of our representative form of government are the voices of its people - your voice and mine. It’s time we find those voices again.