its been almost a year since i have written anything. not just here, but anywhere – journal, idea book, study notes…nowhere. in a season that beckoned me to silence, i found that my words felt incomplete. unable to communicate the depth of what i was experiencing and the riches i was experiencing in a season, i simply shut my mouth and all mediums i used for that expression. but that season is drawing to a close and i find myself caught – between longing for the silence and the beauty of not speaking up and the realization that i was created to be a voice.
solomon tells us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and the needy.” and he tells us to do this right before he shares about the woman of noble character. this is probably bad exegesis, but i tie those passages together. to be a woman of character means to speak up. to speak truth.
this past week speaking up was not brandishing a picket sign, standing on a street and shouting my opinion at those who unfortunately crossed my path. it was about speaking on their behalf to the God that i profess to follow.
a family that lost their college daughter as she fell off a cliff hiking
a woman who is constant pain and discovered that to fix it means she is unable to have children
a young woman who has lost two babies and is surrounded by friends experiencing the joy of birth
a young man recovering from a flash fire that burned over half his body
a sweet student who’s immune system is attacking her and has left her wanting to die
and a falling out between dear friends…
crying for them, i, in my inadequate voice, plead with the Lord to intervene, to rescue, to redeem, to restore… to do what he does best. and in the midst of being overwhelmed by the suffering – not even of the world! – just these few near me, i found myself longing for eden. the simplicity and innocence of what it was like way back then…
for now however, i’ll use my voice.
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