“Be a voice not an echo” These words are written across a t-shirt I bought several years ago at a christian music concert. In fact, to be honest, for the life of me I cannot remember which group it is for. Yet somehow I always remember the words that are on that t-shirt, I think it is because that is exactly what I want to be “a voice not an echo.”

“The voice of one calling out in the wilderness”

Jesus himself was definitely a voice and not an echo. Jesus was a voice for the voiceless. Jesus was a voice for the sinners in his midst. I think of the woman who was accused of sinning and Jesus asked those gathered to throw the first stone if they had not sinned. They all stood in silence…because like this woman…they too were sinners. Jesus wasn’t afraid to stand up for all of God’s children. Jesus was continually turning the world upside down.

I have been thinking a lot about being “a voice and not an echo.” I want to stand up for those nine year old girls who are being sold by ISIS. I want to sit with them and protect them. I want to stand up for what I believe is right. But most of all, I want to shower God’s love and grace around the world.

In July of 2012, when I attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, Lousiana, I found myself sitting in opening worship listening to Rachel Kurtz and Agapes’ soothing sounds washing over me. The words that washed over me and the approximately 34,999 other youth and adult leaders were words penned by Rachel; the words to the National Youth Gathering Theme Song titled “Make a Difference.” The chorus to the song goes like this “I want my life to make a difference. I wank my life to make a change. I want my life to do some good here. I want my life to make a change.” YES!!! A RESOUNDING YES!!!

Because when I am a voice and not an echo, I believe that my life is all these things. When I am a voice and not an echo, my life will and does make a difference. When I am a voice and not an echo, my life will and does do some good here. When I am a voice and not an echo, my life will and does make a change. Will you believe it with me friends?