What a shame it would be if the cardinal did not sing, if he withheld his song until it was good enough or silenced himself for fear of rejection.

How drab the forest would be if the cardinal hid in the shadows instead of boldly contrasting the greenery with his brilliant color.

Proudly singing in the symphony of birds, the cardinal greets us as we wake in the morning. His joyous song carries on the cool breeze and touches us with an inspired, hopeful energy. We do not need to know his song to embrace its message.

As with the cardinal, we each have something special to share. The world benefits as we gain the confidence the let ourselves be seen and heard.

What a shame it would be if we never allowed ourselves that freedom, if our message stayed buried within us instead of reaching out and connecting to the world beyond.