Hello Maggie, your Soul Food journey continues here…
Every Friday we share a blog about how secular music can help us to reflect on our faith and our relationship with God.
Celeste – ‘Hear My Voice’
There are not many songs which can speak to your heart, nourish your soul and call
you to action all at the same time. For me, ‘Hear My Voice’ does all three.
This song, co-written by Celeste and Daniel Pemberton, was nominated for an Oscar after it was featured in a Netflix film called ‘The Trial of the Chicago Seven’ – the story of a group of American protesters arrested and taken to court for demonstrating against the Vietnam War.
So far, so worthy. But it’s more than that. Quite honestly, this song sends shivers down my spine. Celeste’s elegant, powerful, voice. A measured yet insistent message. It could be heard as a prayer for a better and truer existence:
“Hear my voice, hear my dreams
Let us make a world, in which I believe
Hear my words, hear my cries
Let me see a change through these eyes”
There are too many situations in the world where the voices of ordinary people have
been silenced. I am sure you can think of some current examples.
Conversely, there are also many places where change has happened because people have raised their voices and called out injustice, even at great personal cost.
This song nourishes my soul with its beauty, but it also challenges me to consider how I raise my voice, and for what purpose.
To criticise and tear down, or to encourage and lift up?
To speak words of hatred and prejudice, or to call out for a world which we can all
believe in?
Thanks to Mandy Briggs for today's reflection.
