Terrence had heard the song once before, as a child. He was quite young and didn’t understand what it meant, at least not entirely. But he remembered it, and he would hear bits and pieces of it here and there and recall the time when he had heard it in boyhood. It was a beautiful melody, though quite out of step with popular music of the day. Still, Terrence knew that there were some who, despite the prevailing tastes, sang it with passion and sincerity, though they weren’t often found.

But he heard the melody, unmistakably, being hummed by the new office worker, Lyle. It wasn’t loud and one could have only heard the song by passing directly in front of Lyle’s cubicle, which Terrence had done on his way to the coffee pot. At first, Terrence thought nothing of it, for at first he didn’t recognize the tune. But on his return trip, Lyle was still humming it, and this time it came back to him.

Terrence had noticed that Lyle was a bit different than the others who worked there. Selfish ambition was not his defining characteristic, as it was for so many of his coworkers. He was quiet, but friendly and willing to do whatever he was asked to do, for the most part. He worked hard, though he had some difficulty grasping the Thompson project. However, he did finish his report on time, and the project was completed as scheduled. And rarely did Lyle work late. He was usually out by five, on his way home to his wife and children. Overall, a good employee, thought Terrence, though he didn’t show as much devotion to the company as some thought he should. Lyle didn’t let that bother him, though. He continued to sing.

Over the weeks, Terrence began to form a friendship with Lyle. They often went to lunch, and talked over their food about many things. Sometimes Terrence would ask questions about the song, questions like “who wrote it?” Or “what do these lyrics mean?” And the like. Lyle did his best to answer, but sometimes he could not explain. Sometimes, Terrence would just ask him to sing some of it, and, for a moment, all of his questions disappeared, the melody having replaced the need for knowledge in Terrence’s mind.

Lyle’s singing intrigued others, too. It was something they had never heard before, a taste of a bygone era-a novelty. They, too, would ask him questions and ask if he had the music and lyrics written down.

“I do,” he would answer, “but songs were made to be sung.” Others laughed at him. “That old song?” They would chide. “It’s so outdated. So many newer songs to choose from, and you sing that?”

Still others were indifferent. They reasoned that Lyle should be able to sing whatever he wanted to, as long as it wasn’t bothering anyone else.

But soon enough, those of the bothered variety surfaced. Some had never even heard him sing, but the fact that he did sing that particular song, and the fact that someone might hear him singing it, raised the ire of a few employees. After much preliminary complaining to co-workers, the disgruntled began speaking to the higher ups.

“I don’t feel comfortable knowing that he might break into song at any minute,” one unhappy employee said. “He’s causing the workplace to be less productive,” said another. “If he’d sing some different songs, you know, mix it up a little,” yet another malcontent added.

And so, the campaign to silence or sever Lyle began. Lyle argued little when they told him to shut-up. He remained polite and gracious when they told him what they thought of his “little song.” He worked just as hard, if not harder, when management told him to refrain from singing. He sang still, but he was more cautious of where or when or in front of whom he sang. Terrence wasn’t sure what to make of it, and, to save face, would often avoid him or make excuses when Lyle offered to take him to lunch. Within a month or two, Lyle was forced out of the office. He packed up his things, and without a noticeable trace of bitterness, said good-bye to each coworker and each manager. He stopped at Terrence’s cubicle on the way out.

“I though you might like to have this,” Lyle said, handing Terrence a folder with some papers in it.

“What’s this?” Terrence said, feeling his face grow red in embarrassment as his snubs of the last few weeks suddenly moved to the front of his mind.

“It’s something I thought you might want to try one day. I’ll see you around,” said Lyle, holding out his hand.

Terrence took the folder, shook Lyle’s hand, and said, “Best of luck.”

Lyle nodded and walked away. Terrence watched him go, and then, pushing back emotions, resumed his work after putting the folder next to his inbox.

Things settled down within a few weeks. The workplace got back to normal. The atmosphere was a little heavier, but before Lyle, it always had been.

One day, on his way to the coffeepot, Jim thought he heard some humming as he passed by a coworker’s cubicle. It was a song he recognized, but he couldn?t quite make it out. On his way back past the cubicle, Jim remembered where he had heard it before.

Stephen F. Pizzini spizzini@hotmail.com

Are you ready to share our Lord’s song with others?

Matt 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV