This may come as a shocker, but I hate singing! Yep... when they fire up the organ at church on Sunday, I cringe. I know all the scriptures about songs being prayers and singing praises and all that, but the funniest line to me is in "There's Sunshine in My Soul Today" when it mentions ".. the song I cannot sing." That describes it perfectly!! I absolutely cannot sing! And I wasn't fortunate enough to be born deaf, so I KNOW what it sounds like when I open my mouth and try to form notes! And having a perfect knowledge of my inability to sing, I really hate having to do it!
Certain music and songs are bearable... and I'll even voluntarily sing along, if I'm alone. But there are some songs (and unfortunately most in this category tend to be lovely church hymns) that I would rather go give blood than have to sing. And don't even get me started on why I start laughing when a song starts to play with notes so high that even the angels are struggling!
That's not to say that I don't enjoy the music of the hymns, or even listening to all the people around me who sing fine. I'd like nothing better than to sit and enjoy the music (and I do as often as I can get away with it.) But I feel duty bound to be a good example for my daughter and show her that we should be happy to sing hymns to the Lord. And there's no way to be inconspicuous about not singing now that I sit in front of everyone in RS. So there I sit, week after week, not so silently suffering through such horrible torture. (Probably just as tortuous for those who have to sit near me... sorry Erin and Leslie!)
I hope that when I die and head to the other side that there's a special section for those who just want to listen... or (more likely) I'll be sent to a remedial music class where they can try to coax something close to singing out of my throat. Maybe there'll be some sort of miraculous transformation of my vocal chords or something. I'll try to keep that hope alive.
In the meantime, if anyone knows how to teach "singing for dummies" and would really love a challenge... give me a call!
4 comments:
Psalms 95: 1-2:
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the crock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Patty, it doesn't matter if you can hit the notes or not.
Two of my fondest memories in church are of a humble sister in the Ward Choir and a Bishop who couldn't sing and knew it - but who sang anyway, because they wanted to participate in praising God. You will be fine, as long as you remember that He knows what your heart wants to sing even if your vocal cords can't make it happen.
I sat next to Cindy and Carrie for FOUR long years (in HYMN singing time). I am a preferred listener too. I love the thought of a listening choir!!!! Just do your best, don't worry so much. I was sitting in the back last week when the sisters were singing a beautiful closing hymn, bringing me close to tears. One sister sitting fairly close to me was way (and I mean -way) off key. I listened to the singing, and listened to her- and her voice didn't change the beauty of the song at all!! I was suprised (and comforted!).
Patty, just open your mouth and let the sound come out! The truth is that everyone else is looking at the hymn book and no one is paying attention to whether or not you are signing, (although I may have to sneak a peak now that you have revealed your secret!) LOL. Not really, I need to keep my eyes on the notes. The Lord does know your heart and that is what is important. Always remember that it isn't fair to yourself to compare your weakness with someone else's strength.
Beware, Patty! I love to sing, but EVERY TIME I would start to sing in all my growing up years, one of my siblings would QUICKLY run to the stereo and turn it on to drown me out. I grew up painfully aware that I couldn't sing.
So, here's the BEWARE: I prayed for a beautiful singing voice. Then, I got called to be Primary chorister. Rule #1 with that calling: if you don't sing out for them, they will not sing out for you.
I loved that calling, and, in fact, I believe that I learned to sing much better through fulfilling that calling. (If not, please don't point it out to me, or rush to turn on the stereo -- I like living in this ignorance.)
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