Voices--A Tribute to Herb Carneal

As we follow this Holy Week, I have been struck by the word, "voices." "Voices" are a very prominent part of the Gospel message. John the Baptist's cry in the wilderness. The Voice from Heaven. The crowd shouting, "Hosanna!" These voices do not end here, the will continue through out this week into the morning.

I have been thinking about "voices" on another level as well. We get used to those familiar voices in our lives. We get used to hearing our parents and other relatives voices and we turn our attention to what they have to say. A voice gives familiarity to friends and long lost colleagues. Voices also display mood and emotion. Those of us who attend church know the voice of the preacher and certain phrases and inflections can send goose bumps up our spines. Such as hearing one proclaim, "This is the Good News." or "This is the Gospel of the Lord."
When we live in certain cities or towns we get used to hearing the voices of those who do the most talking. Whether it be politicians, radio announcers, or television personalities we know when we are home or feel comfortable when we hear those voices.

Having lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota all of my life, I too have familiar voices that comfort me in the local media. Dave Moore who used to be a local television anchor is one of those, for me. John Gallos announcing the beginning of the Little Rascals and Three Stooges hour after church on Sunday or the Saturday matinee movie. On the radio side hearing Garrison Keillor and his flat voice with the occasional intones and hearing him breathe is another. Steve Cannon and his show "The Cannon Mess" with his his pals: Backlash LaRue, Ma Linger, and Morgan Mundane is another of these. When we would go to the Metrodome and watch the Minnesota Twins play baseball everyone knew the stadium announcer and his famous calls: "Noooooo Smoking! No smoking is allowed in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome." or "Now botting for the Twins, number 34, center fielder, Kirbeeeeeeeee Puckett!" Unfortunately, the announcer Bob Casey died just before the start of the 2005 Twins season. Last year, Kirby Puckett died just before the start of the season. This year another great Minnesota Twins personality died.

It was announced yesterday that Herb Carneal the radio voice of the Minnesota Twins has died. Like Casey who was the only Twins P.A. announcer, so too Carneal was the only Twins play-by-play announcer. Although that role had been diminishing in recent years. Carneal was famous for such phrases as: "The winner of this Snapper mow-down inning is. . .", which was based on whether or not the Twins pitcher struck out 3 players in an inning, "3 up, 3 down" as he would say. He was also known for his play calls such as: "The wind-up and the pitch, a deep long ball, headed for center, way back, way back, it's gone! A home run for Kent Hrbek. Touch 'em all Hrbey!" Another great voice is silent in baseball.

This has me thinking about the voices that I listen to. I can wrangle off quotes from many local personalities in both television and radio, and trust their interpretation of events. As I listen to all of the familiar voices in my life, the question remains: Do I, do we, listen to the voice Jesus? This voice telling us about love and grace and peace. This voice that comforts us when we are weak and in need, and joyful, and tempted, comes from One who makes his voice known through the reading of the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit by the work of God. Let us all take some time out today and everyday to listen to what God is saying to us.