Page 330 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

He was sweet, he was crazy
And he was inside out
He was a Western James Dean
He was a rebel he played wild
He was the first born in my family of five
He was a most unusual, most unusual
Unusual child

As I sing these poignant words about Jimmy, I feel the
energy in the room intensify. I sense many can relate in one
way or another. As the song concludes with an emotional plea:
I realize my voice is ringing out with a sense of power and
control. It’s a feeling that is purely mine and I love it!
And then, with song ended, there is an awkward silence.
But I am no longer surprised by this response. I’m beginning
to learn that this song literally stuns people into quiet. But then
gradually, one by one, hands join in unison as applause fills the
room.
The hour passes and I feel even more empowered. Being
this exposed is frightening but it is also giving birth to a new
kind of freedom. The enormous measure of shame that has
penetrated my life forever seems to diminish. This must be
what healing feels like.
I know now that my purpose today is to encourage these
broken men to surrender to Jesus so that they too can experience
all the forgiveness, love and freedom that’s been given to me. I
swear I can feel their collective love wrapping around me like
a warm blanket. Most of these men appear so hardened on the
outside, but like me they are simply wounded souls with their
own traumatic stories of survival.
Finally, I sing my last note. I am embraced with sincere
and hearty applause as the men all rise to their feet. Without

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