The Gift of Voice

In reflecting on the passing of vocal legend Whitney Houston I continue to go back to the label of "The Voice". Whitney Houston has been called the voice, not only because of her vocal talent, but also because how she used her vocal talent to do things musically that had never been done before.

This led me to the reflection of how powerful the gift of voice is and how we so often take the gift of voice forgranted in our lives.

I'm not simply speaking of voice in the vocal sense of the word, but I am using it in the active sense. Being in a position to have Voice and utilize your Voice to inform, educate, or influence is a powerful thing and one that we, especially in Washington, DC and in politics, take forgranted.

We must be reminded, that there are people all over this world, while they have the physical biological function of voice, have no Voice in their own lives.

So many people, in so many ways, live their lives without the opportunity to fully own their lives by giving Voice to their very existence.

I am reminded and challenged today, to not forget the blessing it is and gift it is to have Voice in my life, my community, and the world around me.

Let us not take our Voices forgranted.