In God We Trust

A million years ago..or it seems that long,  I was a voice major in college. I sang Puccini, Bizet and Broadway.  I could hit a high C and hold it.  I could sing the chorus of the Nightingale, in Barber of Seville, which has an F sharp above high C in it.  I was my voice.

More than 12 years ago, I had a surgery that left me unable to sing.  Or at least, I believed it had.
I could not hit high notes and for a long while I could not carry the tune.
I no longer ordered season tickets to the opera because I would weep through the production, remembering when I sang those arias.   I honestly did not know who I was,  if I could not sing.

And so, the Lord opened a window in my heart.  I began to teach Bible Study.
All the passion I had put into singing turned to Christ and His Word.
I was blessed immeasurably as the Bible Study grew.
Deep, rich relationships developed between the members. And most importantly, our relationships with our Lord deepened.
                                And one day, I listened to an familiar aria and I did not cry.

And that brings me to today...
A dear friend of mine called me yesterday to ask me to recommend a soloist to sing at her mother's funeral.  I gave her the name of a woman in the church choir who had a lovely voice.
She asked if I would mind taking charge of those arrangements for her.  Of course, I said I would.

I called the vocalist,  but had to leave a message for her.  I worried about having to wait to hear from her, as time ticked by. Finally she called;  and regretfully said she was unable to do it.
And she had no other referrals to offer me.
I called the pianist for other possible singers.  He and I had performed many times together in different venues in the past.
                               His first question to me was, "Why aren't you singing?"

Now, he knew about my surgery.  And, I reminded him.
His reply was "Gayle, these two songs are simple. You can do them on a bad day. You don't need another singer!"

I gave my normal round of explanations as to why it was impossible, but he said, "Be here at noon.
                                 You are going to have to prove to me you cannot sing!"

So, with no other choices,  I went.

On the way, I had a call with another suggestion of someone who might be able to sing.
Once again, I began to tell God all the reasons I could not sing at this funeral.
                     The friend whose mother had died was a perfectionist.
                     She had taken great care with every detail of the service.
                     I was afraid that my unused, unpracticed voice would detract from her perfect planning.

And He answered every my every argument with one simple, yet profound question.
                     "Can you not trust me this little bit?  You who teach others to trust?"

Still I hesitated. "Well, I will call this one other person and if she, too, cannot do it, then I will."
And as if there were a soft chuckle, I heard Him say,"Go on. Call her but she can't do it!"

I looked up, and out loud I said, "I will sing, my Lord. And I will trust you...with the whole thing."
                                               And I did. I sang. I sang.
There was no mike when I sang;  and when your voice is weak, a microphone always helps.
                                                   I whispered, "I will trust."

I discovered a former pastor was conducting the funeral service, a pastor who had witnessed a disastrous performance one Sunday morning years before, when my accompanist had gotten the pages of my song mixed up.  Rather than gracefully stop singing until she realized her mistake, I had kept singing louder!
Of course, on the wrong page!

Oh! How I began to fear another humiliation! And still he commanded me, "Trust me!"

When the funeral was over, and every note had been sung perfectly, I left the church with a new song in my heart, and a new sense of the trustworthiness of the Lord I serve.

Tonight, my former pastor called me.  He told me he had heard a lot of songs in his lifetime, but these were two of the best songs he had ever heard. He said my voice was clear and beautiful, but that what made it stand out was the Spirit behind it. 
               His words I will never forget,"Gayle, you sang in the Spirit.
                      And I want you to know it was a ministry to me."

I had come home by that piano, in that chapel.
I knew that the Lord Himself had led me to this moment of joy.
I knew that I "can do all things through Him".
                                           
                     I kept waiting to hear the Lord say, "Told you so!"