TheBanyanTree: It's a Test

[Mike Pingleton]

wonderful, Nancy.
-Mike

On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 3:02 PM, <NancyIee at aol.com> wrote:

> It’s a Test
>
> There is a woman in the choir who cannot read a note of music, and it
>  doesn
> ’t even matter for she’s always way off key. Her attendance is perfect,
> she’s there at every practice and every Sunday morning, and she tries to be
> friendly by telling everyone more than anyone ever wants to know about her
> job-seeking ventures and the antics of her cat. She speaks too loud in a
> language not all can understand, for her diction and grammar leave much to
> be
> desired. And her place to stand and sing is right next to me.
>
> Others complain that she cannot follow the song, and her missnotes disrupt
> their own concentration as we practice to blend in and harmonize. I grow
> impatient, myself,  when I try to help her and she says, yes, I understand,
> and then sings it all wrong again. When we perform before the congregation
> or go  somewhere to perform a concert, she is always there.  We might sing
> like  angels, but there is always the obvious overtone of one note out of
> sync.
>
> Long ago in history, I was a teacher of intellectually challenged children.
>  Some could read. Some could print their names. Others learned to tie their
> own  shoes. Some only listened without expression. I learned more from them
> than they  ever did from me. One parent, when asked by someone who viewed
> those children  unkindly, asked, “how can you keep doing it?” The parent
> replied, “It’s a  test.”
>
> I have remembered that line, and whenever I meet someone difficult, or
> contrary and with whom I must communicate, I hear my heart beat, “it’s a
> test.”
>  Can I be a person who accepts those who are different, difficult,
> differently  talented than I? Can I improve my skills at patience and
> compassion?
> Will  I learn to measure up?
>
> When we get together to sing,  the music is sublime, the message
> compelling. We sing of a birth and the hope for peace and world sanity.
> The  chords
> are mighty and perfect, the melody ringing out clearly, except for one
> singer out of tune. I realize that not only do we need harmony, all
> singing in
> the same tempo, we also need those who sing something different. Someone
> who
> cares to show up every time and contribute. Someone who has the passion to
> do  good in her own way. Every voice counts, even those who do not sing
> exactly  perfect. And, for the rest of us . . .
>
> It’s a test.
>
> Nance
>