The Choir

The wedding ceremony was almost complete. As the emotional yet beaming bride emerged from the registry with her new life long partner, the choir burst into a traditional Zulu wedding march and blessing. There were broad smiles, teary eyes, more than a few tapping feet, and even a little jig from the happy couple, the mother of the bride, and the father of the groom – such was the irresistible powerful charm of the Union Bible Institute Choir.

While best wishes were wished and confetti snowed down over the newly-weds, the choir faded out quietly through the back and enjoyed some refreshments ready for the trip home. There was an unmistakable buzz after their singing that seemed at a higher level than the anticipatory excitement that usually precedes the reception and it was an opportunity on which to capitalise and capitalise quickly. The singers piled into the waiting minibuses, and being one of the fortunate drivers, I asked if they would sing as we drove past the congregation who were milling around outside the beautiful Hilton College chapel.

What a question ! It needed no repetition, no subsequent reasoning or justification, and certainly no begging or bribery. And what a resounding answer. No hesitation, no embarrassment, no shyness, and no musical accompaniment. Only their God given voices, their enthusiasm and their overwhelming desire to abundantly share what they loved.

We left the smiling and waving wedding guests, and ambled slowly and jubilantly into the enveloping Midlands mist, and down through the spectacular grounds to the gate. I thought their voices would start to fade out quietly considering we were now out of sight and certainly out of earshot from the crowd. I was mistaken, gloriously mistaken.

They did not stop.

With every passing face along the road they sang louder. As I tapped my hands on the steering wheel and danced in the seat of my car they sang more freely, and when wafts of mist closed in around us, I was only too pleased to be forced to slow down and stretch the moment. The goosebumps on my neck were visible in the rear view mirror and the image reflected back was almost shockingly happy. I could not remove the smile I had and my worries were simply melting in the mist. I eased off even further on the accelerator – if there was traffic behind me they would simply have to wait. I had no conscience and was unconscious of time. Each new song was like a thirteenth cheque, and the thought of money cropped up.

I have a six shuttle CD player, amplifier, and up to two hundred watts of music system installed in my combi, and they remained silently in shame. The power in their voices, and the complete absence of distortion made advanced technology sound totally redundant. It was a moment of supreme spirituality – a short fifteen kilometer journey which took me to my own heaven and back.

How many moments like this were missed a few years ago? We might never know. But the opportunity we now have to discover more of them is astounding. With people like these – true messengers of God who spread a way of life just by living it, there is hope, and plenty of it. They take their problems, and there are plenty of them in an area of unrest, with a straight posture and straight on the chin and they give back only love and fellowship. Love and fellowship and song.

I imagine that with these three attributes alone we could address so many of the problems we still have as a nation.

We eventually arrived back at their church and I reluctantly switched off the car. We bowed our heads together in spontaneous prayer, and although I had no idea of the meaning of the words, the message was overwhelmingly simple.

Love, fellowship and song.

God bless us all and God bless Africa, and above all, God bless you the Union Bible Institute, all those like you and all the lives you touch.

P.S It is not long now until my own wedding. An African choir will be present.

P.P.S The message was simple once more.

Love, fellowship and song

Steve