With a Voice of Singing

God works in mysterious ways: it is perfect timing that the Net cover I’ve written lands on the week of Thanksgiving. Since it’s my last Net article of the year, I want to use it to give thanks for Bill Wilds, who is retiring December 31st.

When Bill and I (well…mostly Bill!) were organizing the choir library this summer, Bill was delighted to come across an anthem he hadn’t sung in many years: “With a Voice of Singing,” by Martin Shaw. Because Bill loves it so much and because the words embody his legacy so well, the choir (with several alumni coming in from out of town!) will be singing it on December 17th.
 
With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia!
Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered His people, Alleluia!
O sing praises to the honor of His name, make His praise to be glorious.
With a voice of singing, declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia!
 (Martin Shaw, 1923)
 
The phrase “with a voice of singing” sounds redundant at first glance but Martin Shaw, who is also the composer of the music, knew what he was doing. There is another layer of meaning that is added when we sing words instead of speaking them. My experience of Bill is that he understands this to the core. Bill Wilds hums non-stop. If it’s Veteran’s Day he’s humming “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” If it’s Advent, he’s got our Advent hymns on shuffle, and often at other times of the year!  I’ve never been to his home but I imagine him humming “Bringing in the Sheaves” while he mows the lawn, or “Be Thou My Vision” at his yearly eye exam.
 
Singing, or humming, hymns is more than just an endearing habit of a unique individual. It is a way of imbuing your life with the truths of Scripture and the presence of God. It reminds you, often on a subconscious level, that God is present in the mundane as well as the profound. God is there in the good and the bad. God is there when you are making new friends, and when you are saying goodbye to old ones.
 
Bill Wilds is larger than life, and not just because of the things he has accomplished, his legions of loyal friends, or because he’s 6 foot 3. It is the humble way he lives his life: his daily faithfulness to work, his devotion to friends, and his infectious joy. And he’s humming all the way.
 
Ginny Chilton
Minister of Music