#45.4, Thurs., June 8, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges

         Simon is sitting with me here as I search for the secret of his smile that seems so rare.  I asked him if he likes to sing the dancing songs at the little church.

         “Yes, I do like that, Papa.  But without you the music has a terrible hole in it.  I know Haberd and Brandell notice too; during the music part they just sit there talking to each other and making silly faces. So, I’ve been trying to sing louder to make music seem important. I try to make it better.”

         “You’ve been doing that?  Of course, you have – my little man who makes all things right. So let me tell you what I was thinking. Maybe that hole in the music is because there is no harp.”

         I see that look of panic across his face as though everyone but Simon knows the next verse.

         “No Papa, I can’t play your harp. I’ve watched carefully and I have no idea how you know exactly which strings make music. I could never learn that.”

         “The strings on my harp are only the one I know. I was thinking if you had your own harp the only strings it would have would be the one or two you would know.

         “Let me tell you an ancient story. A shepherd boy with a harp that had only five strings, played his songs for the sheep. I imagine he sat on a great rock by the creek.  I’ve heard his older brothers were very good at everything they did so they might have laughed if they heard him playing his harp and singing. Maybe the songs he sang came from his own imagination, his heart, his prayers — and maybe only some people would think they were songs.

         “People love music in different ways. Some make up their own songs and sing just for themselves and maybe for God. Others only want to sing what everyone else is singing. The little shepherd just sang his songs for the sheep in his quiet times. But then when that little fellow grew up he became a great king and his little songs became the songs everyone was singing. Those are the same psalms we chant today.”

         “Yes, Papa.  So now, I will go clean out the stable.”

 (Continues Tuesday, June 13)