Pipes.

Louis Armstrong’s voice was mistaken for a Muppet today. This was unfortunate.

I grew up listening to Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie because my dad is a trumpet man. He went to school for it, performs for people and teaches kids how to love music. I fell in love with the sound of the trumpet, really good music and Louis Armstrong’s voice.

Everybody who has ever heard Louis Armstrong knows it is Louis Armstrong. There is something about his voice that either makes you hate him or love him. My opinion, the guy is kind of a big deal. His voice reminds me of a happy grandpa smoking a pipe and telling stories to his grandkids. You probably sing What a Wonderful World with wrinkly eyes and teeth showing because your attempt to do his gargle, raspy thing is not working out so well. No one can sing a song like Louis just like no one can tell a story like an old man with a pipe in hand and time to spare.

Here’s the thing, regardless of how unique his voice is, it is rarely listened to. If you are not paying attention you can miss it. If you have not listened to him in awhile you can forget it. If you have never heard his voice or even his name, it may fall on deaf ears when it comes or be mistaken for something that will never compare.

I have never audibly heard the voice of God, but His voice is still present in my life. I hear Him most when I recognize Who He is - the times when I bury my face further into the carpet until I feel low enough to pray; the times when I realize I have always needed Him and that He was always there; the times when I remember that I am fully loved by a Holy King.

I do not want to miss His voice. I do not want to forget His voice. I do not want His voice to fall on deaf ears or be mistaken for something as little as intuition.  

I want to be in a constant state of poverty.