Burden Beneath The Hymns
Burdens Beneath the Hymns
In the deep South, where pews creak beneath Sunday best and voices rise in polished harmony, fifteen-year-old Donovan "Van" Shelton struggles to keep his own voice from breaking under the weight of expectation.
At church, he's the pastor's friend, the quiet boy in the back row expected to nod, smile, and fit neatly into the role his family and community have chosen for him. On the field, he's pushed toward grit and glory, his father barking from the sidelines, desperate for a son who looks the part of a man. And at home, Van learns that appearances often matter more than happiness.
But life begins to shift when Van discovers an unexpected gift: a voice strong enough to carry across rafters and silence a congregation. Choir rehearsals become both an escape and a revelation, even as the spotlight brings new eyes-and new pressures. His best friend, Jeremiah, the pastor's son, is pulled into a whirlwind of expectations and the suffocating orbit of Daphne, the girl the church has already chosen for him.
And then there's Colby-loyal, steady, athletic Colby-whose quiet encouragement becomes something Van doesn't yet have words for. Something that feels both dangerous and necessary.
Set against hymns, sermons, soccer fields, and whispered gossip in fellowship halls, Burdens Beneath the Hymns is a tender, layered coming-of-age story about faith, family, friendship, and the fragile line between who we're told to be and who we might actually become.
Author: J. R. Gray-Heim
Publisher: Josadah Publishing Co
Published: 10/05/2025
Pages: 280
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.25w x 0.63d
ISBN: 9781737362630
About the Author
Gray-Heim, J. R.: - J.R. Gray-Heim (Joshua) grew up surrounded by family on their original homestead, nestled on the side of Spencer Mountain in Dallas, NC. As an older Millennial, he played a balancing act between Southern religious obligations and self-acceptance.Even with adversity and odds stacked against him, he knew he was destined for more than living the stereotypical Southern straight man's role and more than what his small town could offer. He grew up with his eyes always set on the horizon, where the big city life in Charlotte, NC beckoned.Today Joshua lives with his husband, Adam, and two dogs in Raeford, a small suburb of Fayetteville, NC, home to Fort Bragg. He is a serial entrepreneur who has established one of the most successful salons in Fayetteville. As a business owner and a philanthropist, he lives by the mantra, "make a difference, not a dollar," and spends much of his free time giving back to the community in a variety of ways.He also spends quite a bit of time antiquing and hunting for vintage treasures, much to his husband's chagrin at times. His talents span everything from performing in drag brunches to landscape painting to singing in a barbershop chorus. Joshua's biggest desire in life is to create a sense of connection and belonging for everyone he encounters and for those who read his story. As he loves to tell folks, "You only get one life; make it count. Trust me, honey, you got this."