Ukuleles and Heaven

Thank you to Amy DeBurgh, Director of Volunteers and Guest Services, for writing today's blog.

Cindy and her husband came all the way from Washington State in their camper to volunteer for three weeks here at Shepherds this year.  Chuck is a kind man and a very hard worker.  He served our maintenance department every day they were here.   

Cindy is a character; a sweet woman with a spicy sense of humor and a joyful servant’s heart big enough for all of us.  We became fast friends. 

 

It was supposed to be considered early spring, but it was definitely still winter.  Snow was barely starting to melt and the temperature was hovering in the mid to high forties.  We really needed a little Hawaii brought to us. Cindy was happy to accommodate with a warm heart and a ukulele.  Actually, she brought nine ukuleles, donated to Shepherds by the generous people of her church in Ferndale, Washington.

This donation enabled Cindy to teach lessons to interested Shepherds College students a couple evenings a week while she was here.  The dancing tones of ten ukuleles could be heard, for better or for worse, through the halls of Shepherds College as students rose to the challenge of learning this Polynesian art of thrumming. Every class began with an “Aloha.”  This greeting made it quickly to the corridors where it was well-spent on passers-by and especially loudly when Chuck or Cindy were seen on campus anywhere.

She also took her “Uke,” as she calls it, to Day Services and strummed while they sang loud praises to the creative God who invented music, ukuleles and every wildly joyful mouth in that room. On one such occasion, one of our residents who was known to be non-verbal drew close enough for Cindy to hear him humming.  Since Chuck and Cindy’s visit, this man has moved on to a much warmer place.  Sadly, he passed away last week.  We will miss him.  He, however, might be singing full-throated songs of praise or strumming a “Uke” with brand new hands for all we know.  No matter what, we can be sure his joy is complete.

Cindy probably didn’t know what impact her unique talent would have on the joy of Shepherds Ministries.  From what she told me, the impact Shepherds had on her was equally surprising.

You may have never thought of the ukulele as a way to make friends or connect people or to worship God. Similarly, you might see your unique gift or talent as being of very little use.  If you have thought that God could never find a way to bless anyone else with your abilities, prove yourself wrong.  Step up and volunteer. Who would have thought that the ukulele could bring some warmth to Wisconsin and, as it played, foreshadow the songs of heaven.