Finding your Sound

Our local cathedral recently had an open day where you could find out about the history of the building and take a tour of the church and grounds. Of course I loved seeing so many artefacts - the old Saxon cross that was discovered when a new entryway was recently installed, the medieval churchwarden’s chest carved from one long tree trunk in the 13th century, the mention of the village in The Domesday Book, etc.

However, what I didn’t expect was how much joyous wonder I found in touring the bell tower. Up what felt like 300 tiny stone steps spiralling to nowhere, I finally emerged into a room where 10 beautiful ropes hung down. This room was where the choristers would work together to produce the variety of gorgeous sounds and rhythmic melodies that we hear echoing across the moors on Sundays and special occasions.

The tour took place only a week after the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, and the bells had been busy that week. There is a regimented liturgy of bell-song that runs in synchronisation to major royal events, and living so close to the cathedral, we were privy to listening to it.

From that room with the ropes, I was invited to go even higher, up a very thin metal ladder to view the actual bells - into the bell tower! This gorgeous collection had been meticulously cared for - the oldest bell dating back to circa 1574 - when Elizabeth I was reigning! Think about that!

That particular bell is now ‘listed’, meaning that due to it’s historical age and significance, it cannot be tinkered with or scaled up and down in any way. So the rest of the bells have to be tuned after that specific one from henceforth!

I found myself so moved by seeing these bells (and in retrospect sad to have not had my camera with me!). It would have been deafening to listen to them whilst in such close proximity, but it was fun to hear one bell being struck for demonstration.

I have heard people say to me that our voices are like bells - we each carry a specific note or sound that emanates from the depths of who we are. It’s your note. It’s the sound you were made to sing.

Sometimes (maybe most of the time?), we mute the sound because we don’t like the sound of it, or we try to auto-tune it to match someone’s sound that we admire. Or perhaps we don’t feel that our sound is needed when there are already so many other beautiful sounds out there. It can also take a lot of work to really connect with that sound - who am I? what’s my purpose? what do I have to contribute?

We all ask these questions, but I think creatives can sometimes wrestle with it even more. We tend to downplay the worth of our creativity and centre our lives around what feels more efficient and so-called valuable to society. But it’s worth the wrestle to find your creative sound.

So, what’s the sound that was placed in you and where is it meant to be heard? And are you honouring that sound, muting it, or auto-tuning it to someone else’s?

I don’t think these sounds are meant to be idolised, but I do think that they must be honoured and nurtured. They’re like God-given notes placed inside that soul-bell somewhere deep in your chest cavity. It’s always been there, and perhaps it’s time for you to start ringing it. (Or if that sounds intimidating, maybe you just need to find some other bells and start making a joyful sound between the lot of you!)