聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 I've played the piano in the advanced dementia unit of our local seniors' home for years and it's become one of my favourite places to tickle the ivories. Residents sometimes stare blankly but a closer look may reveal toes or fingers that, ever so faintly, beat out the rhythm. Other times, a shadow of recognition flits across a face, followed by the tremble of lips seeking desperately to connect with those long-lost words. A recently completed beautiful new seniors' facility boasts an expanded and light-filled area for the hymn sing. Last week it was packed with residents of all levels of care plus numbers of visiting friends and families. As I began, a staff member wheeled in one last attendee.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I'd never seen this resident before, don't know his name but for the purpose of this article, I'll call him Gregory. I'm not sure what first attracted me to Gregory, his missing teeth or his vibrant smile. What I do know is that when he was wheeled into the room, his excitement was all the thanks I could ever wish for.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "I can't remember the words," he blurted out, even as his hands directed some far-off choir. Jumbled syllables accompanied the keyboard melody and the smile never faded from his face. "I wish I could remember the words," he repeated. He was parked immediately beside me, skirting the end of the piano bench and I whispered to him, "don't worry about the words, just enjoy the music". I'll never know if he understood me or not.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I was reminded of a profound truth, however: no matter how confusing life gets, how painful the circumstances, nothing is more important than remembering the song.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)
