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Reflection for July 9 2006

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I read earlier this year of some trapped coal miners in West Virginia who as their oxygen ran out and rescue seemed unlikely began to sing hymns.

In 1879 at a place called Rorke's Drift in South Africa a detachment of 150 soldiers of a Welsh regiment found themselves surrounded by Zulu warriors who had come fresh from an earlier victory over British forces. As night fell the Welshmen peered into the darkness sensing tomorrow would be their last day on earth. Then someone began to hum a melody and slowly it was picked up by others until everyone broke out into the words of that Welsh national hymn: Men of Harlech / March to glory / Victory is hovering o'er ye / Bright eyed freedom stands before ye / Hear ye not her call?

In the classic film "Casablanca", which takes place after the German defeat of France and the neutralization of French North Africa in 1940, several uniformed Nazi officers stride into Rick's casino for dinner and while waiting arrogantly begin to sing some marching songs. The other casino customers are intimidated until Rick (played by whom else but Humphrey Bogart) walks to the orchestra and tells it to play the "Marseillaise". They start out haltingly, then pick up the beat; a few voices mouth the words and then the whole place erupts into a dominant: Allons enfants de la Patrie / Le jour de gloire est arrive! The Nazi officers go silent.

The power of song, of anthems, of hymns to raise one's spirit, to strengthen one's courage in times of stress! But I must admit that last Sunday, what with all the bad news in the world and the turmoil within Christendom itself - globally and locally - I almost faltered at the words of our liturgy's opening hymn "All are welcome". What were its words? Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live. / . . . Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace. / Here the love of Christ shall end division: / All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place. To me it seemed for a moment like a pipe dream, the hesitant cheer of a feeble pep rally.

That is, until it dawned on me what hymns are all about. For all such hymns are not simply music in the profane sense of the word. They are incantations. The intent of an incantation is not just to fill the air with pleasant sound but to change things, to enchant, to magically achieve something like a miracle. And so it becomes an obligation of all who sing hymns like "All are welcome" to sing them with vigor enough to make something happen - to create - presto! - here and now in this community a house where all are welcome, a genuine community built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace - despite the gloom that would discourage the very notion.

I mean, a hymn - to use an image given us by Simon and Garfunkel - is like a bridge over troubled water bringing us to the other side of our stress, even as their song itself served as such a bridge for many in troubled times - a song that begins: When you're weary, feeling small / When tears are in your eyes, . . . / And friends just can't be found // Like a bridge over troubled water / I will lay me down . . . Indeed, I find myself wanting to sing the last verse of that song as if it were a hymn of hope applicable to "Holy Mother Church" as we used to call her:

Sail on silver girl, / Sail on by. / Your time has come to shine. / All your dreams are on their way. / See how they shine. / If you need a friend / I'm sailing right behind. // Like a bridge over troubled water / I will ease your mind. / Like a bridge over troubled water / I will ease your mind.

Anybody want to join me?

-- Geoff Wood