Today’s inspiration from Rumi is about the impact of our voice.
“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
The world we live in is loud. The sound is almost unbearable and it clouds one’s thinking. We seem to have always been a nation where the loudest voice is the only voice that is heard. On one end, we hear nothing of one person’s suffering but when banned together, the suffering is acknowledged. On the other end, those who are loud but have nothing constructive to say often find themselves in positions of power or prestige, feeding nonsense to the masses who are too enthralled by the noise.
I believe the quote refers to the manner in which we speak to others. My dog trembles when she hears thunder roaring outside but relaxes when it’s just rain coming down. The noise causes fear but the rain comes through and soothes away the stress. With this being Pride month, this quote applies to our LGBT friends and family as well as all other groups who, throughout history, fought for their rights.
In the shadows of our history, many of our micro communities have suffered. After much suffering, it took the mighty roar of people banding together to be heard. We are not where we need to be because it seems that this world rewards noise based on volume and not what is just.
In the words of the Black Eyed Peas, where is the love? Those who cause thunder in the world inflict fear and squeezes the love right out of our hearts. Some fall in line with the thunder while the others become the rain. It is important to use your words of love and kindness to help inspire other to stand up for what is right. There is no reason anyone should live in fear for being who they are. Even Jesus said he who is without sin, cast the first stone and being without sin applies to no one.
Use your words and actions of love and kindness to teach others what it means to rain inspiration in hopes that they learn the importance of self-reflection. There is a quote from Plato that states, “The empty vessel makes the loudest sound so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.” When we self-reflect, we gain an opportunity to fill ourselves with self-love and self-kindness, which we can then help fill those who are empty.
Don’t stoop to the level of the thunder and intimidate the skies but rise and become the rain of inspiration and growth.