Why do I write?

To begin to answer this question, I quote a radical named John the Baptist: “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness…” (John 1:23).

But what a voice! It caused such a stirring that a king was forced to behead him. Was John the Baptist’s voice the voice of complaint? Was it the voice of self-righteousness? Was it the voice of boredom?

No doubt there was both criticism and praise for him during his time. What is essential is that he spoke up even if he felt his was just a voice from the wilderness.

And that is what writers do. We speak up! We do it in various ways, too: humorously, seriously, tongue-in-cheek, sarcastically, cryptically, just about anyway we can so long as we get our message across.

In doing so we reflect the joys, pains, frustrations, discouragements, aspirations, hopes, wonders and everything else in between of ordinary people; yes, even of those who comment by asking why we’re always complaining and not doing anything about it.

In writing, perhaps we can stir up others to do their part in expressing themselves (one way is to go out into the streets and protest). Hopefully, one voice becomes many voices. Then the many voices can bring about change.

Comment, if you will, on these articles. Just don’t lose your head going about it.