Suzanne Mercier - Monday, May 10, 2010
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About 3 weeks ago, a colleague Gary Sholz from Project Balance sent me the link to an amazing video.
John Francis became an environmentalist after seeing 2 oil tankers
collide under the Golden Gate Bridge in 1971, spilling more than a half-million
gallons of oil. He saw the oozing sludge, witnessed the birds and
wildlife dying and responded by giving up driving or riding in a car. He took his banjo and started walking. Not just that, when he got tired of arguing with friends about what he was doing and whether one man could make a difference, he stopped talking too. In the external silence, the internal voices started to go quiet and he got to know who he really was.
He received a university education and started teaching - all without using his voice. He wound up in Washington writing oil pollution regulations. He had found his voice on an issue he was passionate about.
To hear and see his journey to authenticity, watch the video.
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John Francis' story really touched me. He had the courage of his convictions. He truly believed that one man could make a difference and he set out to prove it.
While we don't need to go to that extreme, we can learn or be reminded of some important lessons through his message:
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If we are silent, we can actually hear that noisy voice in our head telling us what to do, what not to do, judging ourselves and judging others. That voice is there most of the time, talking to us, and we just don't notice it. If the voice is supporting and encouraging us, great. Most commonly, though, it is reinforcing self-imposed limitations. After a while of not "feeding" the voice in our heads, it goes away. Those of us who meditate have experienced the peace that comes in place of the voice.
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In the ensuing silence, Francis was able to question how he perceived himself as a human being and a black man, and question his unconscious responses.
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Having identified what was important to him, he had the courage to live by his convictions. All it took for Francis was 17 years of silence and a pilgrimage across the U.S. After educating himself , he wound up in Washington, named as the Environmental Ambassador for the U.S. and writing oil pollution regulations. After inspiring people he encountered over his 17 years of silence, he was finally putting practical solutions in place.
The question for us is: "What do we need to do in order to see who
we really are, what is important to us and to speak from our authenticity?" I can assure you, it's not
always easy and it is worthwhile.
What do you think about finding your authentic voice? I'd love to hear.
All the very best
Suzanne
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