At church a few weeks ago a line in a hymn captured my imagination. The line said “Give us the courage to enter the song.” What is the song that is being sung that we people of faith are being asked to have the courage to join.
When I grew up in Scotland everybody had a song. When you went to a party the entertainment was the folk who were present. As the evening wore on folk would shape the room into a circle. Each person had their own song. One after the other they would sing it. One of my parent’s friends was a lady called Famie. Now Famie had a great voice and her song was “Climb Every Mountain” from the Sound of Music. As Famie’s turn came up she was encouraged to ‘sing that song’. She resisted. It happened every time and we all knew it would. After resisting the invitation to ‘sing that song’ a few times she would suddenly, to everyone’s joy, burst into song. At the end of the song she would always sing the chorus, stand up and gesture for everyone to join in. The conclusion, as always, was everyone present joining in to a resounding rendition of “Climb Every Mountain.”
Whether we think that we are a good singer or not we are all invited to join in the singing. Like the old folk song says: ‘All God’s people got a place in the choir’. Many of us grew up being told by someone that we couldn’t sing or we didn’t have a voice. I know that I did in school. Many people have similar experiences. It was not until I met and experienced the leadership of John Bell of the Iona Community that I had the courage to sing. Through John’s leadership and skill I was given the courage to enter the song. I have met many folk who through an encounter with John Bell, were given courage to sing.
On August 15th the church will celebrate one of the days set aside for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Of course, Mary’s song is the Magnificat. The Magnificat is a song that sings of the humble and meek being exalted, the hungry being filled with good things and the rich becoming empty, the poor being raised up and the mighty being brought low, and the proud being scattered.
It is said that when the Magnificat was sung in the church in the middle ages the poor would shout and cheer. They were given courage to enter the song. On hearing the song they knew that it spoke to their needs and concerns and the words helped them realize that the creator had seen those needs and concerns. For me on my faith journey it is a song that captures the essence of God’s actions in the world. Action which heals and does not hurt; action that restores and does not destroy; actions which engage humanity and does not exclude or alienate. The Magnificat is a song of justice, peace and reconciliation. I have this vision of Mary as a young woman singing this song and inviting others to join in. I have a vision of Mary gesturing and giving others the courage to enter the song. Who in your faith journey has given you courage to enter the song? Who in your faith tradition invites you to hear your voice and sing? The conclusion will always be the same when we all have the courage to enter the song and join in for a resounding rendition.
Now retired, Bishop Logan McMenamie, lives in Saanichton BC
.You can read more articles on our interfaith blog at https://www.timescolonist.com/blogs/spiritually-speaking
* This article was published in the print edition of the Times Colonist on Saturday, August 12th 2023
