You Might Be Ready To Crouch

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter.” – James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones, one of the most highly regarded actors and distinctive voices of our generation, didn’t start out that way. The resonant voice of CNN and Darth Vader, faced an early challenge in the very area where he now stands out – speaking.

The voice of Mufasa in ‘The Lion King‘?
Terrence Mann in ‘Field of Dreams‘
who uttered the ‘immortal’ words: “Luuuuuuuke, I’m your father.” in ‘Return of the Jedi‘?

The same.

The story goes that a traumatic uprooting and relocation at age 5, triggered a stutter. Ridiculed at school, James such developed such insecurity he feigned muteness – to avoid speaking aloud. He turned to the written word for expression through poetry.

James might have stayed that way BUT in high school someone intervened Donald Crouch, his English teacher.  Mr. Crouch challenged James to read aloud a poem he’d (James) written for a class assignment.

Apparently, the teacher expressed doubt that his student was the poem’s author. He went as far as to believe James plagiarized it! He had James recite it without looking at the page. In reality, (I believe) Mr. Crouch KNEW James wrote it, but he used the opportunity to draw out the ever silent, intense boy.

With his teacher’s encouragement, James found his voice – and his destiny. It was the genesis of what would become an illustrious career – from mute to stage.

Thank God for the ‘Mr. Crouchs’ of the world! Their intervention brings painful blessings that rip the scabs off our comfort zones; violently remove the crutches we believe define us. This is when ‘butting in’ isn’t.

I suffered through my version of stuttering that brought low self-confidence in it wings. I too, refused to let my voice to be heard – least I never drawing attention to myself. I too, took refuge in books and writing. I too failed to speak out when called upon, least a light be turned upon me.

Maturing emotionally has done wonders for changing my mind about me. Finding purpose made me step up to the plate. I won’t say, I am completely kosher, however, I am light years past how I once was.

What do you speak over yourself from moment to moment?

Words create barriers or doors. We can choose what we think AND what we say. I’ve accepted that I am not obligated to dwell on every thought that passes through my head. Notice the wording – PASSES THROUGH. Through practice, I am learning to be picky about what’s grooving through my brain.

What’s your mojo? Music means the world to me so I’ll choose a passage of lyrics to sing to myself that exemplify the mood I want to develop. Something encouraging or something that says “I’m fabulous”.

Hey, whatever works – Work it.

Words have immense power. There’s no such thing as an idle one. Each has creative magic. It’s made me more cognizant what I speak over others. I still mess THAT up sometimes but doing better.

What’s holding YOU back? What keeps you from fully expressing who you are and what you have to offer the world?

Confront it.

Besides, you never know – YOU might very well be someone’s Mr. Crouch.

Credits:

* Reference material on Mr. Jones from Academy of Achievement.
* Photo courtesy of James Earl Jones as shown on Academy of Achievement
* Song: “I Believe I Can Fly” written and performed by R. Kelly (1996)