The Voice

We speak with a voice that the world hear

High or low, loud or soft
Filled with passion or joy
Tainted with anger or doubt

Announces our presence

Shapes and defines us
The window to our soul
The steel door with a peep hole

Constantly at the ready

Protecting us from harm
Laughing with loved ones
Screaming with sadness

Unique to the world

Only ours to share

We all have another voice

High or low, loud or soft
Speaks kindly, reassures us
Critical or condescending

Always there, lurking in the shadows

Shapes and defines us
Only for us to hear, hidden from the world
Making sound when we need silence

There from the beginning

Intimate knowledge of our darkest secrets
Uses fear to knock the wind out of us
Consoles us as we fall to the ground weeping

So cunning, we start to need that voice to survive

Becomes our best friend
Traps us, controls us, owns us
We are now puppets to the power of the silent voice

God silences that voice, rescues us from the deadly grip

Scream for him, pray with him, sit with him
Walk with him, wherever you go
The Truth now is with you, the world hears you

The other voice slithers away, back into the darkness

Lurking, watching, listening, taunting
Waiting for you to come back
Tempting you with false promise, trying to soothe old wounds

When you speak, what does the world hear?

Your voice or the voice of the puppeteer?