On TV last night a choir sung ‘You’re the Voice’. The song’s forty years old – written in 1986, inspired by an anti-nuclear demonstration in London. Watching it again last night ‘You’re the voice’ still seems powerful and relevant today
We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
We’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?
You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
This time, we know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing we can make it better.
The song encourages us to speak. However small or insignificant we feel we are we can make a difference, we all have a voice that we can use with confidence and courage. It’s too easy to say, ‘I can’t do anything’. You’re the voice’ encourages us each, as individuals, to use our voice to make a difference together.
Today is Palm Sunday. Over the next week Christians throughout the world will reflect on the last week of Jesus’ life, remembering, imagining, retelling the story. We shall watch familiar events unfold – foot washing, last supper, betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection… We’re a reflective, but often distant audience. Perhaps the distance helps us to retain control.
‘You’re the voice’ calls us to speak out, to get involved in the drama. We must respond to Jesus’ service, courage, love, suffering, sacrifice, forgiveness, hope and transformation. We move from being an interested, reflective audience, to be the voice that makes a difference.
malcolmsmusings.org 