The hoarseness I had last week finally caught up with me this weekend when I lost my voice entirely. It was not altogether unwelcome. It gave me an opportunity to drop out, sleep in, and read — to float along in another world for a few hours.

As I enter Day 2 with minimal voice power, I find myself noticing all the things I can’t do: sing hymns at church, order sliced turkey at the deli counter, instruct a rowdy doggie to behave.

If my voice is still rocky tomorrow I will have to navigate the workplace in silence, too.

All of which makes me think about our voice — our aural calling card, that which announces us to the world. As unique as we are, and sometimes as vulnerable, too.