Losing Your Voice

Ever have that happen?  You mouth the words but no sound comes out?  You are, literally, speechless?  Whether you cheered yourself hoarse while watching the Super Bowl, or you gave too many speeches (remember when it happened to Bill Clinton?) or simply have the worst of sore throats, you know the feeling.  Lots to say and no way to share it except in raspy, misunderstood belches of sound.

Forrest Church, the beloved Head Minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Manhattan, died last Thursday of complications from esophageal cancer.  In the meanest of ironies, as he neared the end this most eloquent of speakers, this curator of the English spoken word who could hold you rapt as he spun sentences and paragraphs of speech into significant homilies that could change your life, this lover of language could no longer verbalize what he was thinking.

His words had major impact on many lives.  Still do.  You can browse through the online tributes to him and get a sense of how he led his life and helped so many others lead theirs.

He took seriously the art of conversation and he used it to connect with thousands, perhaps potentially millions.  His sermons were less lectures than conversations that, once initiated by him, continued in many homes and offices throughout the following weeks.  His 25 books, some scholarly, some practical, nearly "how-to" in nature, all reflect his skill in connecting to people through words.  Significant, thoughtful, provocative, challenging words.

I will miss him as will so many others.  His mantra is powerful and I can her him say it even now: "Want what you have; Be who you are; Do what you can."

He would be the first to encourage anyone who feels "not heard" to speak up for the truth, to not lose one's voice through shyness or false modesty or pride or even shame. 

Speak up.  Be heard.  Use your voice as a force for good.  You never know when you could lose it.