The Mute Singer
I know the title - “The Mute Singer” sounds crazy. But it happened. I saw it. I heard it.
Growing up in the city I was fortunate enough to have a connection as a fairly young boy to rural Mississippi. Going to see Mr. Earl Patterson was like going back in time. It was the early 70s. You would find his small farm down South Union road in Choctaw County. He spoke softly in a high-pitched voice. He worked hard. I remember watching him hitch horses to a plow to work his ground. I had never seen that before.
His small frame house was no castle but he was proud of it. If I remember correctly he built it himself. In the house was his wife. She was bedridden. I was too young to know the medical reasons for her situation. I remember that she could not talk. Daddy and Mr. Patterson would take me back to visit her and they would talk to her. My dad would read scripture and pray.
On one of those visits Mr. Patterson wanted to show us something. He picked up his guitar, sat at the side of her bed, and began to play the great old song, “Amazing Grace.” His singing was soft and his guitar playing was not the best. But as he sang something miraculous occurred. She began to sing along. I had never heard her speak a word. As far as I know she couldn’t. But she could sing. She could sing one song. Amazing Grace. To this day (50 years later) I will never forget her singing. That duet was Heavenly.
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
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