Lift Your Voice

Posted on September 13, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized, Singing, Community |

It’s Thursday and my voice is still all jacked up. Shoot. Last weekend was spent with me yelling, screaming and shouting during both of my sons’ football games. C’mon, what’s a girl to do when her cute 16-year-old scores the only touchdown? Or, when her 21-year-old flat lays out a running back who actually tried to lower his shoulder on him? Give me a break!

As I sit here, scratchy throat and all, I’m thinking about how silly I am. Why would I risk this voice? This voice allows me to sing the praises of my God, this voice gives me access to cool bands and stuff, this voice - at least in part - is responsible for my employment . . . and I abuse it, stretch it, devalue it to yell at some football games that, sadly, were lost anyway?!?

Why? Because, though my voice was only one of many, it felt good to be a part of “one” voice cheering on our teams. I felt bonded and in community with those smiling, screaming, and shouting all around me. “Go!” “Run!” “Touchdown!”

On Tuesdays at my job we have a staff prayer time where kudos are given and prayer requests taken. I don’t know if I’ve ever left one of those meetings without crying at least once during its course. There I am, in a room full of my brothers and sisters, my teammates, hearing their joys and pains, hearing their dreams and present nightmares, and then huddling up to pray and lift our voices before our Father to say, “go, run, touchdown” on one another’s behalf.

Hebrews 12: 1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I take comfort in knowing that we can support one another, live in community with one another, advocate for one another, and encourage one another, that we don’t have to go it alone. And, not only that, but as we choose to walk this life, which at times gets hard and presses in with our opponents poised to strike, the Heavens are rooting for us to run and finish the race set before us, to cross the finish line in such a way that we receive a “well done.”

That said, no, I won’t be yelling at any more games. I’ll esteem this gift that God has given me and reserve its loud use for singing. I will instead, maturely, exercise discipline at these games and find other ways to express my rowdy support of my boys . . . say, does anyone know where I can get some noisemakers?

Peace and Blessings,

Nicole Walters