CHOIR OF ANGELS

He gently placed his empty cup into the saucer. The tea laced with honey soothed his palate and soul. The sunny kitchen with shades of yellow harmonized with the bright fruit-printed oil tablecloth. It paired with his moment of contentment. He saw his reflection in the glass doorway that led to the parlor. The man staring back at him was middle-aged, but still youthful, with black hair graying at the temples. His girth was wider, but only lent an aura of maturity to his statue. He felt confident to take on this new assignment, and since he was an avid horseman, the description of “chaffing at the bit,” described his mood. The year was 1939 and spelled out a new beginning for Dr. Kirk. He was starting a career path that indicated he had “finally arrived.” The familiar and prominent Episcopal Church in Mobile, Alabama was a destination that he had sought for many years. His apprenticeship and training had been sharpened by many years of preaching in the backwaters and small cities of Alabama and Mississippi.

Though a fine minister, Dr. Kirk did not realize that a shadow was forming in the background on this beautiful morning of contentment. The morning was so bright with promise, but it could, and would, slowly slide into dark despair after a couple of years. Surely, the years of preparation with countless sermons and his practiced eloquent delivery would be enough to assure him of a successful career in this beautiful cathedral. He was well known in the region for his persuasive arguments and speeches for the cause of Christ and the Church. He was convinced that his compelling sermons would fill the church to the brim with new members. Unbeknownst to him and the diocese, social norms would change church attendance by men and thwart all his best efforts. A paradoxical situation happened though. When He least expected it, God showed up, turning despair into an unexpected miracle.

Dr. Kirk’s theological inclination was not new in the Kirk family tree. He was the son of a Baptist Preacher as was his grandfather. He was born in an unusual era, the very cusp of the Victorian Age. It was an age where etiquette, education, and the arts were the mark of a gentleman. The wealthy were the most active participants but it affected everyone. Since his father was a minister, they moved in these circles and adopted the lifestyle but without the wealth. Though their family was not wealthy, they managed to educate all their children and live in a decent, modest home. Dr. Kirk decided to become an attorney and graduated from college to pursue that career. But God had other plans for him, and he was called into the ministry instead. He decided he wanted to serve God as an Episcopalian bishop, and without further ado, he entered seminary. He did not find it strange, nor did his family, of his desire to serve God as an Episcopalian. Though Baptists were considered stiff-necked by some, his family held egalitarian views within their family and toward others. His father along with family believed that all people should have equal rights and opportunities. Based on that principle they founded church schools and social programs for the indigenous Blacks after the Civil War. The idea of slavery was abhorrent to their family. The freedom to make choices, including the choice of religious denomination, was held dear.

A New Beginning

His first Sunday morning at the Episcopal Church arrived early for Dr. Kirk. He awoke before dawn and prepared himself and his message. He was not disappointed by the reaction of the parishioners to his sermon. His first day was an overwhelming success. He was invited to many homes and luncheons during the ensuing days after his initial sermon. Attendance soared through the following months, almost overcrowding the cathedral, but strangely, all the attendees were women and children. Remarkably very few men ever showed up for the services. Dr. Kirk was puzzled by this, but he redoubled his efforts to interest men in coming to Sunday service. He created a men’s choir with the few men who attended, and hired a professional organist to entice them, but it was all to no avail. He stopped by farms and shops to chat and befriend men during the week, but the men still did not show up on Sunday mornings. They sent their wives and children to church, but there seemed to be a consensus between them that church was not a “manly” thing to do. Many men at that time considered church as a “wifely duty.” Dr. Kirk could not think of anything to change this cycle of thinking. He became very frustrated as time went on, and eventually, depression and self-doubt plagued every service. He thought, “Maybe my sermons hindered their salvation and are not the inspiration needed to bring these men to God’s house. Maybe I need to resign and pursue another career”.

Finally, his dismal thinking culminated one Sunday morning. This would be his last Sunday as a minister. He was ready to quit. He slowly went to the pulpit, grappling with how to present his departure to the church members. As he strolled up the aisle, he noticed the church was lit up with sunlight pouring through the mosaic glass. The multi-colored tint embedded in the glass turned the sanctuary, filled with people, into a glorious piece of art in stark contrast to his dark thoughts. The brightly lit sanctuary seemed to mock him. He felt his failure even more profoundly. He was definitely going to resign.

Unsteadily, he reached the pulpit and turned to face the crowd. As was his custom, he bowed his head to deliver an opening prayer for God’s guidance followed by the Lord’s Prayer. With eyes closed, he began to pray, and without warning, he heard the majestic voices of a men’s choir singing in perfect harmony. A pipe organ accompanied the voices, swelling with indescribable beauty. The men’s voices soared and filled the cathedral with majesty and perfection. Because Dr. Kirk was a sensible and rational man, his first thought was that he was hallucinating. So, he stopped praying and raised his head hoping that sanity would return. Instead, he saw that the church was surrounded by men in robes, expansive wings protruding from their back, and they were holding chorus books in front of them. He closed his eyes again and breathed deeply with the firm assurance this would go away, and he was certain he had just experienced a lapse into insanity. He certainly did not believe in visions or angels. He knew this happened in biblical times; but not today. This was not real or rational. After a moment, he opened his eyes again, and to his astonishment, the men’s choir was still singing and continued until the song’s last note. Dr. Kirk watched in rapt awareness and wept. He alone had witnessed this vision, and it healed his soul. Dr. Kirk realized with absolute certainty, he was where he needed to be. The congregation was puzzled by the actions of their minister. Still, he allayed their anxiety by giving an emotional sermon from the heart. He never mentioned the vision to them or the resignation he almost delivered.

Dr. Kirk had tried very hard to raise a male choir to glorify God and to prove his worthiness as a minister, but God did not need the choir because He had angels he could call at any time to accomplish his purpose. God just needed Dr. Kirk to do what He had called him to do.

(Dr. Kirk was personally known to our family, and we knew him to be a very pragmatic and rational man. He was so moved by this heavenly vision that we never doubted he had this experience. He was as mystified, as anyone else, about this unusual occurrence. I took some liberties with my storytelling, but the story is a real account as told to me.)

Katie Buxton is a local published author of inspirational and children's stories. https://kathleenbuxtonstorytime.com/