today marks the 20th anniversary of “the VOICE” — my 𝓅𝒾ℯ̀𝒸ℯ 𝒹ℯ 𝓇ℯ́𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ.🥇 it was composed during one of the darkest times of my life when i thought my lifelong dream and calling was all but lost and shattered. [伤心] God had different plans... as much as i want to be delivered from pain, if i was unbroken, i'd never know the beauty of hope and how far grace will go...

when the world around you comes crashing down, what do you do? where do you go? who do you seek? do you have a hiding place? a place you go to escape, meditate, or rest? “the VOICE” is an ode to my hiding place: my Lord and Savior, who is the quintessential source of my hope, peace, and strength. HE is my hiding place.

as i close my eyes, i hear the cry of seagulls. the gentle sea breeze carries a familiar faint saltiness to my lips. i hear waves breaking the shore. i follow the crescendo of the incoming surge and the decrescendo of its retreat. they are the lyrical respirations of the ocean, a lullaby for the weary heart. my feet step into the cool waves as they roll upon the shore. the remnants of footprints in the wet sand are slowly erased with each frothy wave, whereas tears are quickly swept away into the vast sea. i open my eyes to see the sun sitting straight ahead at the horizon.

in my hiding place, the sun represents God. ☀️ He becomes whatever i need Him to be. when i am broken, He is my setting sun. when i am happy, He is my rising sun. perhaps it should be the other way around; however, it is more important to me that He is able to commiserate with my current emotional state so i never feel alone.

the horizon symbolizes my line of destiny, where heaven meets earth, eternity meets ephemeral. 🌅 there is neither a definitive starting point nor an endpoint, yet my heart soars ahead to wherever it leads me. i fear the unknown, but my love and trust in Him empowers me to push forward.

the ocean embodies the greatness of life itself. it is never stagnant but ever flowing. it rages with white capped billows in the midst of a storm, or can be as calm and serene as a quiet midsummer’s night. it is immense. deep calls to deep; its true depths are uncharted. its waters give life but can also take it away. the water is teeming with diversity yet functions as one immense ecosystem.

standing at the water’s edge, my soul glides over the deep blue waters on my never-ending quest to reach the horizon. i ascend higher and higher. it’s an existential experience that liberates the soul. at other times, i remain at the shoreline soaking in the sun’s warm rays as the cold waters lap at my feet.

my hiding place is a feast for the senses metaphysically, emotionally, and spiritually. when i am ready to cast my cares far into the depths of the sea, it is only then that i can confidently exclaim, “it IS well with my soul!” love, hope, tears, and sacrifices: these are the tides of life... 🌊

i realize that most of you here are likely not Christians, but i sincerely hope the music from "the VOICE" speaks to you in a special way regardless. wishing you peace, strength, and shining days ahead! ✨

"𝒞𝓇𝒾𝓈ℯ𝓈 𝓇ℯ𝓋ℯ𝒶𝓁 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝓇. 𝒲𝒽ℯ𝓃 𝓌ℯ 𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓅𝓊𝓉 𝓉ℴ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓉ℯ𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝒹ℯ𝓃 𝓇ℯ𝓈ℴ𝓊𝓇𝒸ℯ𝓈 ℴ𝒻 ℴ𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓇ℯ𝓋ℯ𝒶𝓁ℯ𝒹 ℯ𝓍𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓁𝓎 . "
— ᴏsᴡᴀʟᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴍʙᴇʀs 🕊️

p.s. apologies for the poor recording quality! i never had a chance to re-record. please turn up the volume starting at 1:04, and i recommend listening with earphones/earbuds. 🔊 watch all the way to the end or you will miss the last message! http://t.cn/AXMDe9dF