At the beginning of spring last year, I went for a walk one morning. It was a clear day, and the park was alive with people who, like me, were enjoying the sights, sounds, and fragrances of nature. Often when I am walking, the words to the sacred song “How Great Thou Art” come to thought: “O Lord my God! / When I in awesome wonder, / Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made” (Carl Boberg). And they came to me that day as well, as I strolled the circumference of the park.
Once back at home I noticed I was beginning to experience discomfort in my sinuses. In the past, I’ve experienced this allergy-type condition—especially in the spring and summer—which could end up lasting for weeks with accompanying cough and sore throat. As a professional singer (including debuting as a soloist at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City), the quality of my voice is always a top priority. I became concerned because I had upcoming performances in a few days in a children’s show of Hansel and Gretel—singing the part of Gretel, in high, soaring notes over an orchestra. I didn’t have the luxury of time to wait for this condition to run its course.
I found myself focused on the material lie—not on the spiritual truth. I was mesmerized by the thought of time and limitation, instead of accepting the realization of a sustaining, infinite God, who knows nothing about illness, no matter what the name.
