by Don Reynolds
Those who got to the weekly practice early heard about it first. By the time everyone was there, the whole heavenly choir knew. Of course they could not be sure which rumor was true and there was, as yet, no official notice on the choir bulletin board. However, all rumors spoke of a special new choir that would be formed. Members from existing heavenly choirs would be given a chance to tryout.
Some rumors said that the heavenly choir would be asked to perform for the King and Queen. If this were true, this would truly be an honor. No one in the choir could remember singing in front of the King and Queen. Each member knew how the King and Queen loved music. Perhaps the choir would be asked to sing in the Palace.
Other rumors spoke of the Prince. Some said that the Prince would sing a special number with the choir. This opened up much speculation. Of course all knew that there were several womenžs choirs, several menžs choirs, several mixed choirs, and several childrenžs choirs. If the Prince sang, what kind of song would he sing? Who would he want to sing with? There were so many possibilities.
Some said that the Prince would sing with an existing choir. The selection process was not between individual singers, but between entire choirs. Some choir members started to think of those in the choir who did not have perfect voices. The quality of one was not quite right, another sang too loudly, another slurred too often, etc. Even in heaven there was not an absolute idea of what constituted a beautiful voice and differences of opinion were vigorously shared. Some said that those with serious flaws should not come to the tryout with the Prince. They would hurt the chances of the others. After all, if the people were going to listen to the Prince sing, He would not want them to be paying attention to some strange voice in the choir. If some wanted to know what was seriously wrong with their voices, this would gladly be shared. It would only be for one time. Then they could return to sing with the choir. Other choir members wondered whom the Prince would sit by. It would be such an honor to sit by the Prince. Would He sit on the front row? Perhaps, perhaps not. The Prince was known to do things differently sometimes.
The choir president had been watching all this for a while before she called the choir to order. When she did, there was total silence and intense concentration. She said she had a few announcements. There would be a special tryout the following week with a performance that same evening. It would have something to do with the Prince, but she did not have all the details. She also had received a request for volunteers to sing to some deserving shepherds; however, this would be at the same time as the performance the following week. Those who volunteered would not be able to tryout nor perform with the group.
Suddenly, those with "imperfect" voices were encouraged to volunteer to sing to the shepherds. Many did. Some of the "better" voices volunteered also, much to the amazement of those around them. The president thanked those who volunteered. They would be contacted with further details. The rest of the choir should show up to tryout at their regular practice time.
The following week a new piece of music was handed out at the practice. It concerned a Savior to be born among men. He would be born that night in a village called Bethlehem. Those members of the chorus who could memorize the music could join with the other heavenly choirs in rejoicing. All the choir members successfully memorized the music. There was great joy and beautiful music as each heavenly choir had learned a different piece of music for this wondrous occasion. The rejoicing in heaven was beyond anything anyone in the choir could remember.
Over the hills near Bethlehem, a different choir appeared. It had many imperfect voices in it, and many good voices. The shepherds were frightened at first, but later rejoiced as the heavenly music filled their souls. After visiting the shepherds, the choir performed in a stable where a new mother was caring for her newborn son. The baby listened intently to the chorus as if he understood. The Prince who had been born for the sinner, the maimed, the halt, the blind, and the imperfect, smiled. And the King and Queen knew their gift had been received.