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As I first sat down to write this article, I had a Korean drama playing in the background on TV. I tend to do this often – have a show playing quietly while I go about my daily business. But this time was different: All of sudden I heard a song playing that was so captivating it lured me away from my writing. The sounds soothed my soul so profoundly, it was as if a spell had been cast upon me as I drifted off into a different state of mind. When I finally snapped out of my trance-like state, I realized that what I had experienced was almost identical to what happened when I first heard “The Voice.”
When the song was done playing during the intensely dramatic scene of “You Are All Surrounded,” I quickly looked it up on the internet to find the title, artist and lyrics. I soon discovered that the song was called, “I’ll be on your side,” by Coffee Boy.
I listened to the song again, only this time I followed along while reading the English subtitles online. Soon I found myself gasping for air as tears streamed down my face. I had a tremendous connection with this song. It sounded so familiar, as if the song had been written especially for me. The lyrics are as follows:
(Please click above to listen to this song.)
I’ll be on your side by coffee boy Credit: SBSNOW-English
(Female voice)
Who will comfort my heart?
Who will know my heart?
It seems like everyone is laughing at me
There’s no one to lean on.
I said I’m fine
I thought I had gotten used to it
As this despair returns to me,
I fall again and am left alone
(Male voice)
I’ll be on your side
I’ll say it will be alright
That everything will be okay, that you will shine
That you’re precious to me
On days when everything seems like it’s over, remember my voice
It will be alright, and everything will be okay
You’re the most precious person to me
(Female voice)
I said I’m fine
I thought I had gotten used to it
As this despair returns to me,
I fall again and am left alone
(Male voice)
I’ll be on your side
I’ll say it will be all right
That everything will be okay, that you will shine
That you’re precious to me
On days when everything seems like it’s over, remember my voice
It will be alright; everything will be okay
You’re the most precious person to me
I’ll be on your side
I’ll say it will be all right
That everything will be okay, that you will shine
That you’re precious to me
On days when everything seems like it’s over, remember my voice
It will be alright, everything will be okay
You’re the most precious person to me
I’ll be on your side.
“On days when everything seems like it’s over, remember my voice…remember my voice…remember my voice.” And just like that, I remembered. My mind took me back to an extraordinary occurrence that took place in my life many years ago. It was from an unforgettable instance that forever changed the course of my life. It was the first conversation I ever had with “The Voice.”
Yes. I remember the first time The Voice introduced itself to me – How could I ever forget? Returning to my connection to the song, many times I have fallen down and been left feeling completely alone in life. The despair would always return to me until the day The Voice came to my rescue, reassuring me that everything would be okay. The Voice let me know that I was precious and that He would always be on my side.
After the passing of my beloved husband, I left the field of science and went into the insurance industry. I thought it would be a change for the better, but right from the get-go this new career did not seem to fit me. I decided to take a break for a year in order to give myself some time to figure out what I should do next with my life. So, in the summer of 1999, I traveled to Houston for a week. I figured a change in my surroundings would help quiet my mind and provide me with some much-needed direction. When I returned home, my neighbors delivered the horrible news to me that they had lost their daughter in a car accident. I was so taken by the news that I could do nothing but cry with them.
That night at about half past two, I suddenly woke up. I sensed I was not alone in my bedroom, yet I wasn’t scared. Instead, this otherly presence felt very peaceful. For some reason, and without hesitation, I immediately picked up my pen and journal and began writing all that was transpiring.
“Who are you? Are you the Lord?” I heard myself asking.
“Yes,” He answered. And this was the beginning of my very first conversation with The Voice. I had heard The Voice before, but never had the awareness nor courage to try to engage in conversation before. Our discussion did not unfold in the traditional vocal and auditory sense, but almost telepathically. I did not literally hear a voice with my ears, but with my head and my heart. I did not respond with my voice, but with my head and my heart.
“Where are you,” I asked. It was dark in the room, and I could not see anything, so I asked again.
“In your heart,” The Voice responded.
“Where,” I asked again, a bit confused by the previous answer.
“In your heart.”
“In my heart,” I tried to confirm his answer.
“Whenever you seek me, I am always here.”
What came next surprised even me: “Why did you take my husband?” I asked.
Shocked by my question, I realized I had not let go of my deceased husband, even after all these years.
“You would not understand now, but I will replace him with myself.”
He was right. I didn’t understand. The conversation went on like this for a while until I abruptly asked: “Why did you take my husband away from me?”
“As I said, you will not understand, but my love is boundless. “
“His love is boundless. He is in my heart. He will take my husband’s place. I am not alone. He is with me.” It seemed angels were singing these verses repeatedly in my ear. What an assurance! I was not sure I had gotten everything He said that night. But one thing was sure – that His love filled me. Feeling relaxed and peaceful, I slowly closed my eyes and fell back to sleep like a baby.
There was something in The Voice that provided me with the most reassuring feeling and knowing that He is not just by my side, but in my heart as well. Wherever I am, He is always with me.
This was the first time I heard The Voice. It happened more than ten years ago we’ve shared many incredible conversations since then. I know people wonder whether or not this is all in my head – but I know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the answers and guidance He has provided me with over the years are far more profound than anything my mind could have conjured up on its own.
This voiceless, imageless, and formless surpasses the world of the voice, the image and form. Our eyes will not be able to see, nor can our ears be able to hear, because it goes beyond the physical presence. It seemed to be nonexistent and yet it is there. We can only use our hearts to listen to it and use our hearts to see the invisible.
It reminds me the fourteen chapter of Tao Te Ching (by Lao Tzu)
It says:
Look, it cannot be seen – it is beyond form.
Listen, it cannot be heard – it is beyond sound.
Grasp, it cannot be held – it is intangible.
These three are indefinable;
Therefore they are joined in one.
From above it is not bright;
From below it is not dark:
An unbroken thread beyond description.
It returns to nothingness.
The form of the formless,
The image of the imageless,
It is called indefinable and beyond imagination.
Stand before it and there is no beginning.
Follow it and there is no end.
Stay with the ancient Tao,
Move with present.
Yes, this Voice is indefinable. Stand before it and there is no beginning. Follow it and there is no end. It is invisible, untouchable and more importantly immeasurable. Indeed, the immeasurable power comes with it. It brings out the love, wisdom, and miracles, and has encouraged me to walk a new path in life.
Listen with your heart, and you too, may learn to hear The Voice.