I sang out in church tonight. I sang out with gusto, the familiar carols my faithful friends.
I sang out with so much enthusiasm that the young boy in the pew in front of us kept looking back and then whispering in his grandmother’s ear, the two of them commiserating about my energetic efforts.
I sang out with love for my family, in thanksgiving for my community and with respect for the visible truth that we were gathered in celebration of something larger, more substantial, more significant than ourselves.
I sang out because giving my full self always leaves me refreshed and renewed.
I sang out to ward off cynicism and fear, to remind myself that I control nothing but myself.
I sang out as a gift to my future self, a reminder that what remains hidden can never be given away.
I sang out tonight because I can sing. And that is more than enough.
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world. Connect with him on Twitter at @berrydavid.