On Finding Your Voice

I cannot say enough how shocked I am at the number of teachers who are messaging me to meet and talk but won’t put anything in writing. That speaks volumes of their level of fear of retaliation for speaking out. There was another woman in biblical history who had to overcome fear and speak out about an injustice. It’s been awhile since I studied the book of Esther, but let me highlight some main points. Esther was growing and developing during a time when her Jewish family and community were facing opposition led by Haman. Her cousin Mordecai urged her to speak to the king on her family’s behalf since she had the ear of the king. Of course she was afraid and was very hesitant to stick her neck out and possibly be executed. But if she didn’t speak out, then entire generations of Jewish people were going to be executed so she had to make a choice. The most famous verse from this book is found in Esther 4:14 when Mordecai says, “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” I remember sitting in church saying, Okay, Lord, I know that you are preparing me for something, but what is it? I didn’t know He was preparing me to have both a voice and an audience. First came fitness. Then came writing about fitness. That gave me the courage to write a book, speak to audiences about fitness, and eventually write on other topics such as faith and broken relationships. When I saw what was happening in my school system, I tried to just wait it out and write about it later; but I couldn’t wait any longer. My prayer is that as other people read these blogs they will see themselves as Esther. You have been prepared to stand up and speak out. I am only one person, but with many joining me we can accomplish so much more. Dear Reader, please find your voice.