Feature Article

HEALING THROUGH SONG
BY Naomi Faust

Several years ago I read a magazine article that said for good health you should sing everyday. I realized that I didn't do a lot of singing and I thought this sounded like a good idea. I suggested to Irv that we sing a hymn every morning for our breakfast grace. I typed out a number of hymns so that we had a different hymn to sing each morning. We also lit a candle. Irv had a beautiful tenor voice so you can imagine how much I enjoyed hearing him sing every morning.

When Irv was diagnosed with cancer he left for a month of treatments in Reno, Nevada. I knew I had to deal with the possibility of his death.

As I came to terms with this I knew I needed to still find joy in my life. I started singing in the shower. I found hymns of joy to sing, like "Joyful, Joyful, we Adore Thee" and "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart." I found this to be very helpful and I continue to do this today.

Now that Irv is gone I still light a candle every morning and I sing a hymn for my grace. I feel it has truly helped me to deal with my grief. I highly recommend that each and everyone find time to sing in your daily life. I think about the slaves who sang as they worked in the fields. I think it helped to make their lives bearable. One of the songs on my list is the spiritual "I Hear Singing in the Air."

Can you imagine what the world would be like without music? Music can lift our spirits and especially when we ourselves sing. We don't have to be good at singing or even be able to carry a tune, just sing out. We really can't stay mad or depressed when we sing. It doesn't have to be a hymn. It can be an old camp song or a song from your childhood. Just sing it. I truly think singing can bring joy to your life.