“How Great Thou Art”

“How Great Thou Art” is one of my favorite hymns. We sing it often at Olvey Bible Church. Most times I just sing along with everyone else just trying to stay somewhere near the correct key so I don’t embarrass myself too badly. But yesterday I began singing the song at home by myself and when I got to the chorus “I really let er rip”!! Luckily I don’t have any close neighbors or a dog but it was very early, still dark out, and one of those cold quiet mornings. It was the type of morning where sound carries further and louder than usual.

Back Up Singers

During the second chorus, not very far away, I began to notice someone had joined in with my joyful noise. But not just one someone, it was a whole choir: a pack of coyotes, probably three or four, but of course, they sound like a dozen. I know coyotes yip, bark, or howl for a variety of reasons. They may have thought I was another coyote or dog getting too close to their territory, but I like to think they were just joining in my joyful noise. And if that was the case, I can take some comfort in knowing that at least I can sing “How Great Thou Art” better than a pack of coyotes.

Singing To God

But what inspired me to write this article was not singing with the coyotes, although it was a first for me. To start with, I was alone, really heard the words, and actually felt the words. I truly was in “awesome wonder.” Tears filled my eyes as I belted out: “then sings my soul”. During that moment in time, my soul was actually singing to God and The Holy Spirit was moving inside me. The evidence of His power “is” throughout the universe; the grandeur of the mountains, the birds, the stars, the mighty thunder, even the gentle breeze. God’s Son bearing my burdens on the cross, Christ coming to take me home, It’s all there in this beautiful song with the much-deserved title “How Great Thou Art”

From The Heart

This is the way God wants us to sing. It’s like that old saying: “dance like nobody is watching” I practice that one too. David worshiped and danced with all his might (naked) Now that’s dancing like nobody’s watching!! God wants us to sing like nobody’s watching, like we mean it, from the heart. That’s hard for us to do because we don’t want to feel embarrassed. I understand that because I am the same way. It’s hard to ignore our pride. Pride often stands in the way of my faith. But I was inspired by The Holy Spirit to write this testimony as proof of what can happen when we sing like nobody is watching. So, I will sing and dance as long as I can!!

Psalm 104:33 says; “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.“

An Almost Unrelated Short Story

We used to have large Christmas parties sometimes with entertainment. One year we decided to have karaoke for our entertainment. Any employee brave enough to stand up and sing could do so. I’ve never participated but have always enjoyed listening to karaoke and my favorites are the people who cannot sing a lick, they know they can’t sing a lick, but they do it anyway. I can relate to them. It’s easy to get up there and sing if you have talent, but it takes a special person to get up there knowing that you can’t sing and people are maybe going to laugh.

Elaine

I know this wonderful lady (Elaine) who got up there and sang: “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, a pretty tough song to sing. Elaine was The Director of a complicated medical department. She was highly educated in a scientific medical field that required perfect accuracy and which allowed zero mistakes. However, Elaine was a horrible singer. To me, she was also the epitome of the person described above who sang fearlessly knowing she could not carry a tune in a basket but singing anyway. Myself and the people at the table where I sat snickered and laughed continuously during her performance. I laughed so much I was in tears. Elaine was a fearless great sport. This is what I liked most about karaoke.

One Year Later

About a year later I was in Elaine’s office planning the placement of some new medical equipment she was expecting. The subject of our upcoming Christmas party came up. Elaine said she hoped we would have karaoke again or maybe even a talent contest so she could perform. I began to laugh a little at the thought of her singing again and began to tell her how much I had enjoyed her performance the year before. Just as I began my sentence to tell her how I had laughed to the point of tears she interrupted me to say how much she enjoyed singing. How she had studied music as a child and throughout her life. How she took singing seriously and still took voice lessons. She was actually hoping we would have a talent contest this year instead of the karaoke so she could compete and wanted to know what I thought.

Embarrassed

I guess I was stunned because when I came to my senses all was silent and she was staring straight at me. This was one of those moments where time seems to stop. Had it been possible I would have wiggled my nose and blinked myself away. But there she sat, waiting on my response. I did know one thing, this was a “must lie” situation. But I began by telling her how much I had enjoyed her performance the previous year (that was not really a lie) then agreeing that a talent show would be great. I was proud of myself. I had escaped the must lie situation. As I stood to leave Elaine asked: “How did you like my singing Dennis?” I responded I thought it was great Elaine.