Prophetic voices of today

With the International Conference on Servant Leadership starting today, and so many talented speakers and practitioners there, it seems appropriate to share some of Greenleaf's thoughts on prophetic voices:

There is a theory of prophecy which holds that prophetic voices of great clarity, and with a quality of insight equal to that of any age, are speaking cogently all of the time. Women and men of a stature equal to the greatest of the past are with us now, addressing the problems of the day and pointing to a better way and to a personeity better able to live fully and serenely in these times.

The variable that marks some periods as barren and some as rich in prophetic vision is in the interest, the level of seeking, the responsiveness of the hearers. The variable is not in the presence or absence or the relative quality and force of the prophetic voices. The prophet grows in stature as people respond to his or her message. If one's early attempts are ignored or spurned, his or her talent may wither away.

Reflection: How well do you respond to the prophetic voices of today? Do you recognize them in your own midst? Is there someone you know whose talent is withering away because they are being ignored or spurned?