A Place in the Choir (again!)

All God’s creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on the telephone wires,
And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got

I’m returning to ‘Place in the Choir’. It’s so simple yet so profound. It’s about including everybody in church… or life generally.

It’s about including all ages… Listen to the top where the little birds sing… young children who make a noise, charge about, haven’t learnt church etiquette… The hoot owl hollers over everything… grumpy older folks who are set in their ways…

Choir members with different opinions are welcomed ‘the blackbird disagrees’. It’s not just those who sing the same tune or are on the same hymn sheet. The little duck quacks, Difference draws people together – it doesn’t divide them!

This choir includes all educational abilities – the teacher alongside the non-reader, those who gave up on education, those who can’t speak fluently… ‘the otter hasn’t got much to say’ those with educational disabilities… the porcupine talks to himself

All lifestyles and backgrounds are involved – single parents, happy stable families, Dogs and the cats… humming honeybee and fiddling cricket… out of work, unemployed, successful, comfortable… braying donkey, neighing pony… black, white, gay, straight… And the old grey badger sighs.

Those who have messed up have a place. Those who’ve failed – more than once… the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus… those who’ve been an embarrassment and disgrace… intentionally or unintentionally… hurt people who have hurt people… And the old cow just goes moo.

We must all turn up! It’s not about selfish solo singers… the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear all have their place… The dopey alligator and the hawk above are all needed and involved… The sly old weasel and the turtle dove stand alongside each other…

Together, united, all sing out loud… and clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got.

All God’s creatures got a place in the choir