When Logan Sings

                                                                   When Logan Sings

                                                                      by Renee Hawkley 

I conduct the congregational singing in church. Each week, I survey the Sunday-best version of my friends and neighbors from my seat behind the pulpit. I can count on Logan being there with his grandparents, parents and four older siblings. They sit in the center section and take up the better part of a pew. Most often, Logan stays buckled in his wheelchair beside their row.

Before Logan was born, there was a mix-up with his chromosomes, so he can’t walk, talk, or do the ordinary tasks that most folks do on auto-pilot. 

But make no mistake. Logan has talents. He shares a smile as big as a watermelon rind when someone or something makes him happy. He takes delight in music and has a talent for enjoying it.

On the other hand, Logan has preferences! 

He also has a talent for expressing displeasure by nodding his head back and forth with a gusto of annoyance when something bothers him. 

Most of the time, he listens attentively and smiles as the congregation sings. But sometimes, he registers disapproval of the hymn I have chosen by nodding his head back and forth from the start of the hymn until the last measure in the chorus is finished. I make a mental note of the hymns he doesn’t like and try to avoid choosing them too often. 

Sometimes, when the hymn is one of his favorites, he joins the congregation with his own version. And those times are very special.

Our congregation has several talented musicians. One sings with an opera company. Others sing solos, duets and trios. Some sing with bands and barber-shop quartets for parades, dances and parties. Their music is both stirring and memorable.

But none of them can call angels down to touch the tender emotions of the people in our congregation as effectively as Logan can. That’s because when Logan sings, we don’t recognize a familiar melody . . .  or words . . . or rhythm. There’s just the clear, sheer, childlike delight of Logan as he raises his voice, sharing the joy and the soul of hymns in praise to God with his family and friends.