I lost my voice for a couple of days this week. I have about 85 percent of it back and I sound a little like I swallowed one of the dog’s squeaky toys when I try to hit the higher pitches, but I’m so happy to even have that. What a frustrating couple of days. I would be trying to communicate something vitally important–you know, like “I’d like a grilled chicken wrap and a Diet Coke please”–and no one “got me.” I tried pantomiming, but you’d be surprised how hard it is to act out “grilled chicken wrap.”

“So that’s pigs in a blanket, mamm? No? Turkey maybe?”

More flapping, waving and assorted gesturing. It was all very “Harpo Marx.” But the waitress still didn’t get it. She just stared at me like I’d totally lost it. I was waiting for her to come back with, “Would you like a side of medication with that?”

I finally just had to write it down.

You know what really makes me think? God DID write it down. He gave us the instructions for life, written down in His Word. So why do so many of us search for pantomiming, gesturing and goofy signs from other places instead of just plain reading the Bible? Weird, isn’t it?

Psalm 119:5-7 says, “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws” (NIV).

I’m raising my voice, such as it is, in praise today to the God who loves us enough to communicate his plans to us plainly. And I’m determined to read it, study it and to put into practice what I read.

And speaking of practice, I’m thinking I could use some extra work on my fowl imitations. Even after I wrote my order down, that lady still brought me a turkey burger.

Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com