Song of Hope

When I sing, I do not stutter. It’s one of the things I discovered when an unusual turn of events recently caused me to have a speech impediment for the first time in my life. I realized one morning in the shower that my singing was unencumbered, and it was such a gift.

I have been doing a lot of research about speech impediments and stuttering. Obviously, for practical reasons, it can be helpful to know what’s going on in me. There’s also just a sense of the reporter in me wanting more information. Apparently, it’s common for people with a speech impediment to not stutter when singing, shouting, cursing, and impersonating others. Me? Check, check, check, and have not tried yet. Some reasons could be that singing, shouting and impersonating are all forms of communication that are processed by the right hemisphere of the brain. Normal language needs to be processed through the left hemisphere. Also, words are prolonged when they are sung rather than spoken and less likely to stumble over.

I start speech therapy today, and I’ve heard singing is sometimes part of the process. I have always enjoyed singing in music class, my car, the shower, sometimes choir, and, if coerced, in occasional church productions. For me, singing has been more for personal enjoyment and a form of worship than for performance. So, don’t expect me to sign up for karaoke or an open mic night.


One of my favorite quotable movies is the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. In the film, the main character says “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” I realized Sunday night during a particularly impactful church service -- now more than before -- when I sing, I feel His pleasure.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Psalm 28:7