Thank You, Shawn

Fifteen years ago, I felt the need to sing in church with a choir. Simply, it was time to add that dimension of involvement to my faith life.

St. Columba had many choirs from which to choose. At that year’s parish information fair, I learned about them: a folk music group, Filipino choir, a traditional European/American group and a Gospel choir. All but the last group sang music familiar to me. Curious about gospel music, its background, and the community that embraced it, that became the choir I joined.

This proved to be an easy way to begin my cultural exploration thanks to the genuine welcome by the choir conductor/pianist/lead singer, DeShawn Reynolds, and the warmth projected by the other choir members.

Some of the music we sang was deep, soulful, and spiritual (which I later learned transmitted code to slaves that the intrepid Harriet Tubman or a handful of other incredibly brave persons had arrived to take them to the promised land, i.e., upstate New York or Canada.) Other music was loud and sometimes sounded out of key to me. But singing it gave me a natural high from blasting the cobwebs from the depth of my lungs. Also, I felt a profound sense of oneness with the choir members.

Shawn played the piano without looking at the keys. He harmonized us by singing each of our parts from soprano to base. And he led all the singing, throwing himself into a nearly hypnotic repetition. It displayed a man who was so in love with Jesus that he could not say it enough.

I had not joined the choir alone but brought my daughter Amy to practices as well. When my family and I adopted a young girl, Cara, we left the choir to devote more time to both daughters.

Years passed by. At noon Masses on the first Sunday each month, I sat in the pew, singing what songs I knew along with the Gospel Choir, wishing to be among them.

Finally my schedule allowed me to rejoin the choir in September 2013. Shawn welcomed me back with a huge grin and giant hug. I was very touched by his graciousness.

The music seemed to be different. Not only was it harmonious, it was gorgeous to hear. I found myself singing the melodies for days on end. At the October first Sunday Mass, inspired by the Shawn’s impassioned performance, the choir sang at its best. As the communion songs finished, the congregation rose up to give us a standing ovation. Never before had I seen that with any choir! The gentleman who sparked the standing ovation later told me that the music had moved him to tears. At the next choir practice that I attended, I relayed the comment to Shawn. As we stood in a circle and held hands to pray before practice, Shawn led with his thanks to learn that the parish appreciated the gospel choir music. Soon after, a tiny smile played around the edges of Shawn’s mouth as he repeated his gratitude about hearing praise of the choir.

A couple days later, Shawn died suddenly. A still young man of forty, he had served and poured himself into St. Columba’s gospel choir for twenty-two years. And he was not even a parish member! I marvel not only at his musical genius and his maturity as a teenager to start leading a choir, but at his outpouring of love for people of different faiths and, especially, for Jesus. He exemplified someone who truly knew how to give glory to God.

For the first Sunday in November, the gospel choir sang, forced to revert to traditional music since Shawn’s special genius had been removed. Former choir members flew in from Georgia and other states to join the current choir in commemorating the beloved choir director.

Now Shawn plays and sings for heaven. I expect all the saints and angels and Mary smile at his passion and embrace him. I can almost hear Jesus say, “Shawn, you walked in my shoes because you lived in love and shared it.”

Thank you for teaching us to worship, Shawn! You are sorely missed.

Mary Brennan