He Sang Off Key

I was song leader in my church for over 35 years and we sang acapella... There were beautiful voices in the congregation from the men and women I know but I can't recall any of them... But I do recall of an old gentleman with his wife and on one particular song in a certain part of the song his voice rose above the rest and he sang off key... Are you going to correct him as tears were rolling down his cheek belting out his praise to his God?... Us song leaders never did... Although he sang off key, he wasn't singing for our benefit... And he didn't care, he was singing to the Lord and the Lord was listening... Which brings up a question, does the Lord listen to us when we sing off key?... When things are not going our way, do we still sing to the Lord?... You know the old saying music soothes the savage beast, even when we sing off key... Brother Glen

 

I thought maybe you all would like this one... Called Trouble In Amen Corner by Archie (He-Haw) Campbell

• 
  It was a stylish congregation: you could see they’d been around,
  And they had the biggest pipe organ of any church in town.
  But over in the amen-corner of that church sat Brother Eyer,
  and he insisted every Sunday on singing in the choir.
  
  His voice was cracked and broken; age had touched his vocal chords,
  And nearly every Sunday he’d get behind and miss the words.
  Well, the choir got so flustered the church was told in fine
  that Brother Eyer must stop singing or the choir was gonna resign.
  
  So the pastor appointed a committee, I think it was three or four,
  and they got in their big fine car and drove up to Eyer’s door.
  They found the choir’s great trouble sitting there in an old arm-chair,
  The summer’s golden sunbeams lay upon his snow-white hair.
  
  Said one, “We’re here dear Brother, with the vestry’s approbation
  to discuss a little matter that affects the congregation.
  Now, it seems that your voice is interfering with the choir,
  So, if you’ll just lay out, or...Are you listening, Brother Eyer..?”
  
  The old man raised his head, a sign that he did hear;
  and on his furrowed cheek they caught the glitter of a tear.
  His feeble hands pushed back the locks as white as silky snow,
  and he answered the committee in a voice both soft and low:
  
  “I wonder if beyond the tide that’s breaking at my feet,
  in that far-off heavenly temple where my Master and I shall meet:
  Yes, I wonder if, when I try to sing the songs of God up higher
  I wonder if they’ll kick me out of singing in Heaven’s choir?”
  
  A silence filled the little room, the old man bowed his head;
  The committee went on back to town, but Brother Eyer was dead.
  A few church-goers watched the door, but the old man entered not.
  The choir missed him for a while, but he was soon forgot.
  
  Far away his voice is sweet, and he sings his heart’s desires
  Where there are no church committees and no fashionable choirs... Brother Glen
  

 

A child of God who is singing off key, who heart is in the right place... Brother Glen

 

Rob... I know this, that when we get to Heaven none will be singing off key... But until then we have to show kindness to those who sing, that are not the greatest singers, who sing from their heart... And being a song leader, I'm not the greatest singer either and no one will be getting in line for concert tickets... The angels in Heaven sing in perfect harmony and we will too, where no one is off key... Brother Glen