More Confident with God?

singathim

Recently at a Catholic sing song thing in a group,
anyways we where all singing along (but more like humming under my voice because I didnt want to feel like an eijet!)
but then the women who was singing (who we where following) said "dont sing at me, sing at him (him been jesus)" and as soon as she said those words I sang at my hearts content and all of a sudden I didnt feel or care about other eyes staring at me and judging me if that makes sense?
Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks.

PDN

singathim wrote: »

Recently at a Catholic sing song thing in a group,
anyways we where all singing along (but more like humming under my voice because I didnt want to feel like an eijet!)
but then the women who was singing (who we where following) said "dont sing at me, sing at him (him been jesus)" and as soon as she said those words I sang at my hearts content and all of a sudden I didnt feel or care about other eyes staring at me and judging me if that makes sense?
Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks.

It's called worship.

When we make it about us (how good or bad we sing) then it's just a human ritual. When we concentrate on Jesus then everything changes.

I don't know if you're familiar with the song 'Heart of Worship' by Matt Redman, but I think it sums up pretty neatly what you're talking about:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

homer911

Havent sung that in a while - lovely song

lmaopml

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0QVWzCv9k

OP, I think it was Augustin said that singing praise was like praying multiplied by four Whenever I'm out and about this song often runs through my brain - I love it. If I try to sing it, I get a bit choked up sometimes though.....bit of crow tbh.

qrrgprgua

Makes total sense... Too many Irish Catholics are the typical "Silent Irish" when it comes to mass... The only ones who sing are the Choir (if there is one) and the priest.

In most other countries everyone sings at mass. Song is an integral part of Mass/Divine Liturgy.

Benny_Cake

qrrgprgua wrote: »

Makes total sense... Too many Irish Catholics are the typical "Silent Irish" when it comes to mass... The only ones who sing are the Choir (if there is one) and the priest.

In most other countries everyone sings at mass. Song is an integral part of Mass/Divine Liturgy.

True, if you want to here great singing in an Irish Catholic church you nearly always need to find a mainly immigrant church. I used to live near St.James church near the Guinness brewery, mostly Indian and Filipino parishioners, and when they sang your could really feel the Spirit!

lmaopml

Benny_Cake wrote: »

True, if you want to here great singing in an Irish Catholic church you nearly always need to find a mainly immigrant church. I used to live near St.James church near the Guinness brewery, mostly Indian and Filipino parishioners, and when they sang your could really feel the Spirit!

True, although there's a great mix in my Parish at the moment and there's a bit of a movement going on - it's strange, it's odd, but it's there - people are actually finding their lungs and singing 'in tune'...lol....and smiling too, there are more young men too so that helps - Nice to see.

PDN, that song is beautiful - and so true!

singathim

Thanks for the input guys.
I would love to understand why this is so ?

I guess I'm the object, but I cant preform at my max level because displaying my max level in public some how makes me feel like an eijet (Mabey its an Irish thing ? )
I think its like that person B and person C will judge me if I sing at my max performance level ( I somehow by my own irish nature think that the other persons are thinking, oh look at your man singing, he thinks he's great! )

But singing at Jesus takes my attention of what I think others are thinking of me carrying out my performance!

And its not just singing, Ive tried this on other things and it works where I would normally just tell myself (dont do it, the others will just be saying, look at your man, he thinks he's gods gift the big eijet)

Sorry, Its hard to explain the above in words !!

Agus

singathim wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys.
I would love to understand why this is so ?

I guess I'm the object, but I cant preform at my max level because displaying my max level in public some how makes me feel like an eijet (Mabey its an Irish thing ? )
I think its like that person B and person C will judge me if I sing at my max performance level ( I somehow by my own irish nature think that the other persons are thinking, oh look at your man singing, he thinks he's great! )

I remember reading something remarking on this lack of singing etc at Masses in Ireland. The author speculated that it could be a legacy of the Penal Laws era when too much noise at secret Masses would have been unwise!

PDN

Agus wrote: »

I remember reading something remarking on this lack of singing etc at Masses in Ireland. The author speculated that it could be a legacy of the Penal Laws era when too much noise at secret Masses would have been unwise!

I was struck by this a few days ago. I attended a Catholic funeral and the priest said he was going to sing 'The Lord's My Shepherd' and he invited anyone who knew the words to join in. Then he started singing a capella. I knew the words so I joined in - and even though the church was packed, we were the only two people singing. Everyone was looking at me like I had two heads, and I'm thinking, "Sure I'm only doing what the chap asked."

Sonics2k

singathim wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys.
I would love to understand why this is so ?

I guess I'm the object, but I cant preform at my max level because displaying my max level in public some how makes me feel like an eijet (Mabey its an Irish thing ? )
I think its like that person B and person C will judge me if I sing at my max performance level ( I somehow by my own irish nature think that the other persons are thinking, oh look at your man singing, he thinks he's great! )

But singing at Jesus takes my attention of what I think others are thinking of me carrying out my performance!

And its not just singing, Ive tried this on other things and it works where I would normally just tell myself (dont do it, the others will just be saying, look at your man, he thinks he's gods gift the big eijet)

Sorry, Its hard to explain the above in words !!

It's basically a form of performance anxiety. The vast majority of singers get it at early points in their life when they're not used to singing.

In your case you were subconsciously afraid of looking like a 'fool' in front of people you know (something I can relate to as a singer myself), but when you concentrated on something or someone else, you let go of all anxiety and focused, you were able to perform.

Most performers have different ways in distracting themselves from the stress of the situation. In my case I would focus on a single person in my mind and ignore the crowds of some 600 people.

lmaopml

singathim wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys.
I would love to understand why this is so ?

I guess I'm the object, but I cant preform at my max level because displaying my max level in public some how makes me feel like an eijet (Mabey its an Irish thing ? )
I think its like that person B and person C will judge me if I sing at my max performance level ( I somehow by my own irish nature think that the other persons are thinking, oh look at your man singing, he thinks he's great! )

But singing at Jesus takes my attention of what I think others are thinking of me carrying out my performance!

And its not just singing, Ive tried this on other things and it works where I would normally just tell myself (dont do it, the others will just be saying, look at your man, he thinks he's gods gift the big eijet)

Sorry, Its hard to explain the above in words !!

Singathim, if you enjoy singing and your good at it, then that's a gift - you would be surprised at the amount of people who want to hear somebody sing out...so don't be shy, set your lamp on it's stand and sing your head off -

If you are part of a choir or group it's important to perhaps train yourself to not stand out too much but sing as one at times - but if you have a powerful good voice by all means let it shine it depends on the situation...

- for example, PDN sang his head off cause he knew the words and enjoyed being comfortable in his own skin and praising within a congregation - there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - music and song is like a disease in Ireland, if you sing, then you will have somebody else join in, and then the whole lot will try - It just takes one or two to blow away the old fears. Singing is a lovely gift for anybody who has it.

singathim

I have realised something.
Its not that I am more confident with god (anyways, saying that suggests there is a scale upon which we can measure confidence) whcih isnt true.

What it is, Is my mind is at peace when I project my thoughts to god be it verbal or non verbal (mind talk) where as when I project my thoughts to another human being it is more difficult for me to be at peace!

Does that make sense?

prinz

Benny_Cake wrote: »

True, if you want to here great singing in an Irish Catholic church you nearly always need to find a mainly immigrant church. I used to live near St.James church near the Guinness brewery, mostly Indian and Filipino parishioners, and when they sang your could really feel the Spirit!

True, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament up from O'Connell Bridge is the same. A lot of immigrants and they usually do all the singing makes for a nice service.

PDN wrote: »

I was struck by this a few days ago. I attended a Catholic funeral and the priest said he was going to sing 'The Lord's My Shepherd' and he invited anyone who knew the words to join in. Then he started singing a capella. I knew the words so I joined in - and even though the church was packed, we were the only two people singing. Everyone was looking at me like I had two heads, and I'm thinking, "Sure I'm only doing what the chap asked."

+1, it is odd. Something about the Irish psyche I suppose. I've been to Catholic masses in Germany where everybody gets their hymnbook and belts it out loud and proud. When my wife is here she's almost always in the same boat as yourself above, one voice singing away oblivious to the fact that nobody else is joining in. :pac: When people won't even raise their voices to sing is it any wonder they didn't raise their voices over various scandals in the past.

Recently at a Catholic sing song thing in a group..

Was this group on TV a few nights ago by any chance? Kerry/Cork area?