Songs to Give Us Courage

A young man wearing a black beret stood and read a poem. Every occasion demands the right costume, and he pegged it. I got the idea he was an ex-soldier, or at least the poem was from that perspective. His physique seemed soldierly, too. It was last Friday night, and we were crammed into a small café, maybe thirty of us: young, old, male and female, black, white: a poster gathering for the new South Africa. Television took a clobbering from this group: poem after poem decrying the soul-destroying impact of poll-driven capital conniving media (I’m writing under the poets’ influence, obviously).

Suddenly he started to sing. “Sim’s” voice was clear, loud and the pulsing rhythm crackled around the room. Then he wasn’t reading, he was looking at us as he sang, challenging, inviting, inspiring. He wasn’t singing in English, but I still wanted to join up! “We sang songs to give us courage,” he continued. Reading.

I began to think about the courage he might need: to challenge the corruption and violence in to South Africa, to collaborate in the dream of a just, multiracial, prosperous society.

Then I began to think of the songs I sing. It’s hymns usually, occasionally U2 (that’s how old I am). Words and tunes rise up in my mind: “God of grace and God of glory…” “Singing songs of expectation…” “Lift high the cross…” Not quite the whole hymnal, but they give me courage. U2: “You know Lord that I believe…I have climbed every mountain and scaled these city walls, only to be with you. And I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…”

Songs give courage for the living of these days. St Augustine said, the one who sings, prays twice.

It doesn’t matter how well we sing. The song’s the thing. I’m staying with some friends, the monks of the Order of the Holy Cross at Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery. They sing all the time. The songs get in your brain: antiphons, hymns, choruses. Moreover, these song-filled men live courageously. They are building a school for 60 local children in Grahamstown, South Africa. Sunday Mass is full of neighbors, black and white. They are creating a community based on justice; Gospel values of hospitality, care for the poor and following the way of St. Benedict. As Gandhi advised, they are being the change they want to see in the society around them. It’s their answer to the corruption and violence around them, and I think it is something to sing about!

Next week I lead a retreat for the Superiors of all the Anglican Religious Orders in South Africa.

I’m sure we will be singing.