So I had a sore throat Wednesday night last week and thought I'd just 'suck it up' and bear it... went homeless on Thursday night - good times. Then on Friday I couldn't talk. Really. Totally lost my voice. It was a real pain on many levels - firstly, I had an important visitor that I longed to talk with freely - and although I pressed through it was very difficult to talk... then, I was supposed to speak all day (teaching at a corps) on Sunday and had to get some others to fill in because I honestly couldn't speak... it was nuts. But then I started thinking about it today and considered the pain of being voiceless. Then I started to think about the homeless. I realized that a big part of the pain of homelessness isn't just the isolation and reality of being homeless but the alienation from society itself - it's the 'voiceless' reality of your situation - you really have no one to tell. No one is listening.
We were able to talk freely with a guy who lived in his car for the last year... it was a great interview... he was articulate, smart, funny and very charismatic. I liked him and really enjoyed giving him an opportunity to speak for himself. I want his voice to count. From now on, I don't want to talk just because I can - I want to speak for those who have no voice... I want to use my voice well for those who have no voice. How 'bout you?
6 comments:
I like those thoughts...I think we can go a different way though in thinking that is isn't our job to be a voice for the voiceless, because they actually have voices - they just aren't heard. So maybe instead of being their voice we should empower them to speak and start to demand that others listen. In the words of Jesus himself 'those who have ears, let him hear.'
Sooo great Danielle, i like your reflection. i too agree with this and the comment above. Here in the Congo...i am challenged to be a voice as well as to empower others to use their voice. (sometimes hard when i don't fully have the language) For me...it comes in the form of telling their stories...it is amazing who is listening and what can be done. Thanks for stirring me yet again! haha
Danielle, what a great illustration, in many ways it reminds me of the children who we have hear at the Children's Home in the Philippines. I especially think of one young boy who was Child Trafficked and is now safe and gaining an education. Yes, he had a voice (literally) but he was too young and not confident enough to stand up for his rights... his sufferings were unimagineable! For those who suffer injustice and are too young to say 'enough'... we need to help them, don't wait... act now!
Debbie
The fullness of the Gospel is revealed when those who have no voice find freedom, release and confidence to speak and tell their story. Great challenge, Danielle...not only to speak on their behalf, but to believe they too can speak and that we need to position ourselves - through presence alongside them - to listen and validate their experience.
I agree with the comment above that states that our job is to empower those who feel voiceless to have their own voice. I do realise that this is not always possible but it is what I will always aim for because no matter how hard I try I can never really represent someone else in the way they deserve. I am too ignorant and too prejudiced and too 'me'. I like to think of helping people to find a place at the table, since sadly that seems to be where most decisions are still made. This is more than giving people a voice but is giving them status and decision making power too. We must create space for all people to tell their story but we must go further than this and allow them to shape the future, theirs and mine. I suspect you would agree with this. Thanks so much for your blog.
Sandy Crowden
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