Hi there jmb0903,
If your HomePod is flashing and not working as expected, you'll want to start by checking for alerts in the Home app to see if you can get more insight about what's going on exactly. You can do so with this guidance:
If HomePod mini or HomePod can't connect to your home Wi-Fi network, can't access your Apple ID, or has another issue, you'll see an alert with details about the issue in the Home app. To see more information about the alert, open the Home app, then tap or click HomePod.
You'll find this information here: If HomePod mini or HomePod isn't responding - Apple Support
If you don't see any alerts, you'll want to make sure you follow these steps to see if they resolve the issue for you:
White flashing volume lights
Unplug HomePod from power, wait 15 seconds, then plug it back in. If the white flashing volume lights continue, reset your HomePod. If these steps don't resolve your issue, contact Apple support to set up a repair.
Have a look at this link to learn more: Identify status lights on HomePod - Apple Support
Take care.