Love's Voice

The cover photo of blue birch trees demonstrates the expression of an artist’s talents sharing their creativity with society. Carrying this unknown artist’s vision forward, Love’s Voice challenges each of us to draw upon our individual talents in a mutually beneficial way. One mutually beneficial way to accomplish this is to open society’s closet doors shedding light on hidden and ignored social issues. Blue trees promote joy. So does revealing closetized truths. One such issue, heavy on both societies and the author’s heart, is the disgusting way the needs of our mentally ill individuals are continually ignored. Visibility of this is seen both in the lack of government funding and in societal indifference. One example of both is that within 24 hours after being denied mental health treatment at the University of Washington Hospital, Al Drinkwine’s son Troy took his life. This tragedy took place shortly after President Reagan slashed funding for state mental health programs. By opening the closet door, we shed light on the fact that Reagan’s action provided an opportunity to redirect the congressional financial spot light toward funding his Star Wars fantasy. A serious necessity was closeted to launch a fantasy. Our Creator, through His Son, bestowed upon each of us a commission to “love one another”. By dimming the light on our Creator’s commission, through religious, political, individual and family demands taking priority, we simultaneously establish and justify our need for wars, violence, abuse, legalized abortion, nuclear weapons and much more, resulting in lesser class societies where mental illness, hunger and homelessness have become unconsciously politically acceptable. In opening the door, exposing these closetized injustices, we stretch out our hands to individuals in need. Is this not how we love one another?