The Silence

Silence.

The absence of sound.

If you were born deaf or choose to wear good earplugs, the result is the same: you live in a world absent of sound. But while I might have compassion on the child born deaf, I don't feel the same toward the person willfully blocking out the world. It's his or her choice, after all; if they wanted to hear, they only need to remove the ear plugs.

That's an example about sound we hear. What about sound we make? A shout, a cry, laughter, singing. We shout when we're angry. We sing when we're happy. We cry when we're sad. We speak when there is something to say.

Every one of us is born without the ability to speak. But we learn. Even if we cannot speak with vocal cords, we can use the written word to communicate. The written word can still shout and sing and cry.

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I like to believe our country is better now than it was in 1960. That's not to say there isn't still work to do. Written word or spoken, shouting or crying -- speak up. In honor of Dr. King. In support of the oppressed and the forgotten around the world. In opposition of the unjust. Speak up.

Everyone you meet today is created in the image of God. God loves them, and so must we. Speak up.

If nothing else, say hello.