John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John 1:23

 

John the Baptist had been testifying about Jesus and he was questioned by Jewish priests and Levites, puzzled by what he was proclaiming. “Who are you?” they asked.

He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” (John 1:20)

John’s was a voice of one calling in the wilderness. Calling to prepare for the coming of Jesus and to make straight the way—the valley and the mountain, the rough and rugged ground. God’s glory would be revealed.

Just like John the Baptist, we feel we have such a voice—a small voice, trying to sound big and loud. Calling into a wilderness where ears are shut and eyes are blind. They have been, far too long. We too need to be listened to and heard. Because what we have to say is important. It’s part of Christ’s message:

 

Who will hear?
Who will listen to God’s truth,
spoken through those living with mental illness.
Who will hear us—children of God, people not unlike you?
Who will hear our voice?

 

  • We cry out to clear our name, to show we can’t help the way we are.
  • We call out to show how discrimination hurts and how it needs to stop.
  • We cry to show how we’ve been hurt and what it does to us.

I invite you to follow this series as we examine what various personalities in history have done to address social injustice. I think you’ll find their stories inspiring.

 

This has been Part 1 of the series A Voice of One Calling. To read Part 2, go to Human Rights.