Say Something!

Having reflected, yesterday, upon one directive "Say Nothing", we need to reach for some balance in another counsel: "Say Something!"

You don't have to look very far to discover the multitude of creatures who have no voice...or if they do have a voice, it is the utterance of isolated sorrow and the whimper of helplessness.

Yesterday at a Cleveland East/West Clergy conference we were blessed with the presence of the Rev. Drew Genszler, director of the ELCA Office of Advocacy. He challenged each of us to encourage the people of the church to say something
on behalf of the voiceless. We use our words to "give voice" when we join in speaking for the rights of others...when we speak out for the kind of legislation that moves society's resources towards peace...and justice...and mercy... away from all sorts of human suffering, poverty, starvation.

I suppose it is a sham to try to be a credible advocate for something that is off your radar screen. So... before you open your mouth to say something, you need to expose yourself to the reality of some sort of suffering...some aspect of darkness.

Each one of us, I KNOW, has some place in our sensibility that quivers with pain on behalf of another. Find that place, please.... and join your voice with others so that your voice adds to the chorus singing of God's Mighty Deeds. It may be an economic issue, or an environmental issue, or a legal issue.... but somewhere there is a place and a vehicle where your name and your voice and your involvement can make a difference.

From time to time each one of us is challenged by God (whose presence at times moves us into awe and stillness) to Say Something Bold. May our tongues be unleashed in His Holy Name!