James Henderson, our director in the U.K., made the following observation about the death of Aretha Franklin.

Aretha Franklin, who died this week, was a magnificent singer and a remarkable human being. She had this to say about singing: “If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me, it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.”

When she put her heart and soul into a song, the song came to life. Who can forget her legendary performances of ‘Respect’ and ‘I Say a Little Prayer’?

Putting your heart and soul into something worthwhile changes not only those around us but it also changes who we are. This is a spiritual idea that’s worth holding onto. If we claim, for example, to be a Christian, then we put our whole body, mind and spirit into it. We commit to it emotionally as well as mentally. We walk the talk. It makes it all come alive.

Whatever we do, let’s give it some soul. Make your song live.