Re: request for advise

[Kerrwhitt <Kerrwhitt...>]

In a message dated 97-10-14 11:50:16 EDT, you write:

<< LeShana Tovah everyone.  I've been wrestling with a
spiritual/psychological
 problem for a while, and I wonder if anyone out there has experience with
 it.  As an aspiring lay cantor, I know that the role of the shliach tsibur
 is about humility, serving G-d and the congregation.  But I find that
 singing breeds narcissism.  Does the worry about how you are "performing"
 go away with experience?  Emily >>

I'm another aspiring lay cantor, but have been leading worship for many years
in a variety of settings. Sometimes it's hard to avoid worrying about your
"performance" -- particularly when your voice just isn't cooperating! -- but
I always see my job as songleader, rather than soloist, and people seem happy
to sing with me as a regular person, rather than a Voice. My congregations
have been very forgiving. The goal is always leading everyone (including me)
to a closer relationship with the One, trying to enable a feeling of the
Presence in our worship. The congregation has always supported me if they
sensed that aspiration. On the other hand, I don't feel that I have a Voice
(despite compliments to the contrary), so I always know my work is to for
G-d, rather than myself! Jessie